Unplanned attempts to quit smoking: a qualitative exploration

Aims  To gain a greater understanding of the process of unplanned attempts to quit smoking and the use of support in such attempts.

Design  Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 20 smokers and ex-smokers.

Setting  Twenty-four general practices in Nottinghamshire, UK.

Participants  Smokers and ex-smokers who reported that their most recent attempt to quit smoking was unplanned.

Measurements  Descriptions of the unplanned quit attempts and reported use of support within these.

Findings  Smokers who report making ‘unplanned’ quit attempts exhibit substantial variation in what they mean by this; many quit attempts reported as ‘unplanned’ were actually delayed and involved some planning and use of cessation support.

Conclusions  Reported ‘unplanned’ quit attempts often involve elements of planning and delay for quitters to access to cessation support. It is important, therefore, that smoking cessation services offer flexible and adaptable support which can be used readily by potential quitters.