A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF WOMEN WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY QUIT SMOKING.
Contributors: Georgia State University.
Published: 1995
Number of pages: 187
Subjects: Women's Studies.; Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.; Health Sciences, Public Health.
Description: The purpose of this study was to test a modified version of Pender's Health-Promotion Model on women who have successfully quit smoking. This theoretical framework attempts to account for health-promoting behavior. By examining the experiences of women who have successfully quit smoking, this study provides information that will be useful to health care providers in motivating, supporting, and counseling women in the process of quitting smoking.

This qualitative study used a volunteer, purposive sample of 10 women from the Columbus, Georgia-Phenix City, Alabama, area who had ceased smoking for a least six months, but for not more than three years. A semi-structured, focused interview format was designed and used to elicit data concerning their experiences. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The demographic data were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics. The database program Ethnograph was used to facilitate the data analysis.

The data provided a rich depiction of the experiences of quitting smoking of the women interviewed. Four distinct themes emerged from the data that had an impact on the women's success. They were: evolving commitment to health and personal growth, the effects of a smoke-free environment, the impact of anti-smoking education, and the changing conceptualization of smoking.

This study used a small convenience sample from one geographical area; therefore, the results cannot be generalized to the larger population of adult women who quit smoking. However, three of the major themes which emerged from the data have not been previously described in detail in relation to successful quitting in other research. The anti-smoking education, coupled with smoke-free environment, augments the awareness of the effects of smoking and directly impacts one's conceptualization of smoking.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-08, Section: A, page: 3347.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1995.

School code: 0079.