Reconceptualizing motivation for smoking cessation among people with rheumatoid arthritis as incentives and facilitators

Abstract

Becoming aware of the effects of smoking on arthritis provides an important motivation to quit smoking that may counter RA-specific barriers to smoking cessation. Further research is needed to test whether similar incentives and facilitators of smoking cessation exist in other chronic illnesses, and how to develop interventions to address these motivational processes.

How do people with rheumatoid arthritis experience participation in a smoking cessation trial: a qualitative study

“…In those studies, patients expressed that they had not received information from their rheumatologist about the association between smoking and RA (Aimer et al, 2015;Wattiaux et al, 2019). However, awareness of the effects of smoking on RA could be motivate smoking cessation (Gath et al, 2018). The participants in our study asked for more information from health professionals about smoking, smoking cessation and the connection to RA.…”

“…To our surprise, the participants did not mention their RA disease much in the interviews which could be explained by a possible lack of knowledge about the link between smoking and RA. Qualitative studies have previously identified that one of the main barriers to smoking cessation in patients with RA and systemic lupus erythematosus was lack of knowledge of the links between smoking and RA (Aimer et al, 2015;Gath, Stamp, Aimer, Stebbings, & Treharne, 2018;Wattiaux et al, 2019). In those studies, patients expressed that they had not received information from their rheumatologist about the association between smoking and RA (Aimer et al, 2015;Wattiaux et al, 2019).…”

An example of a comprehensive approach to increase the access to evidence-based tobacco cessation support for smokers with rheumatic diseases

“…In studies conducted on individuals with rheumatic diseases, the lack of knowledge status of patients on this subject has been determined, therefore it was observed that the participants wanted more information about the relationship between RA and smoking from the rheumatologist and nurse 27 . In another study, information about the effects of smoking on RA and anti-rheumatic medications played an important role in facilitating smoking cessation 28 . In a study conducted on rheumatology patients, oral and written information emphasizing the benefits of smoking cessation was given by rheumatologists at the beginning.…”

Smoking as a Preventable Risk Factor for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rationale for Smoking Cessation Treatment in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…These barriers and targeted interventions for patients with RA are outlined in detail in Table 1. Moreover, becoming aware of the effects of smoking on arthritis may represent an important motivation to quit smoking and may counter RA-specific barriers to smoking cessation [65].…”