Trends in smoking and quitting in China from 1993 to 2003: National Health Service Survey data

Abstract

Objective China has around 350 million smokers, more commonly men. Using data from National Health Service Surveys conducted in 1993, 1998 and 2003, we (i) estimated trends in smoking prevalence and cessation according to sociodemographic variables and (ii) analysed cessation rates, quitting intentions, reasons for quitting and reasons for relapsing.Methods Data were collected from approximately 57 000 households and 200 000 individuals in each survey year. Household members > 15 years of age were interviewed about their smoking habits, quitting intentions and attitudes towards smoking. We present descriptive data stratified by age, sex, income level and rural versus urban residence.Findings In China, current smoking in those > 15 years old declined from 60% to 49% in men and from 5% to 3.2% in women over 1993-2003. The decline was more marked in urban areas. However, heavy smoking (≥ 20 cigarettes daily) increased substantially overall and doubled in men. The average age of uptake also dropped by about 3 years. In 2003, 7.9% of smokers reported intending to quit, and 6% of people who had ever smoked reported having quit. Of former smokers, 40.6% quit because of illness, 26.9% to prevent disease and 10.9% for financial reasons. ConclusionSmoking prevalence declined in China over the study period, perhaps due to the combined effect of smoking cessation, reduced uptake in women and selective mortality among men over 40 years of age. However, heavy smoking increased. People in China rarely quit or intend to quit smoking, except at older ages. Further tobacco control efforts are urgently needed, especially in rural areas.

Individual-level factors associated with intentions to quit smoking among adult smokers in six cities of China: findings from the ITC China Survey

“…A national study on smoking behaviour conducted in 1996 found that smokers' self-reported health status, health concern, family opinions, as well as education and financial status were associated with their quitting behaviour 28 29. These are similar to the recent findings from the National Health Service Surveys 30. Two studies conducted among medical workers, teachers, factory workers and secondary students in Hong Kong and mainland China found that being male, married and having high quitting self-efficacy were associated with the intention to quit smoking 31 32.…”

Tobacco Smoking, Quitting, and Relapsing Among Adult Males in Mainland China: The China Seven Cities Study

“…Although Chinese smokers have expressed less interest in quitting smoking and received less assistance than their Western counterparts, the determinants of intentions to quit may be similar ( Feng et al, 2010 ;Qian et al, 2010 ;J. Yang et al, 2011 ;T.…”

Assessment of successful smoking cessation by psychological factors using the Bayesian network approach

“…The marginal probability distribution of the common feature showed the success rate was 36.40%. According to previous publications (Gallus et al, 2013;Hymowitz et al, 1997;Qian et al, 2010), the major reason for quitting smoking is individual illness or fear of being ill. Our data (73.77% smokers tried to quit smoking because of health problems) also verified the reason. The items of SAS includes many health questions, such as headache, fast heart beating, arms shake, fingers numbness, stomach aches and difficulty in breathing and so on (Zung, 1971).…”

“…Successful quitters refer to those who comply with the criterion of smokers, and had not smoked at all for 2 years or more continuously at the time of the survey (Qian et al, 2010). Failed smoking quitters refer to those who comply with the criterion of smokers, and ever quit but relapsed, or had not smoked at all for less than two years continuously at the time of the survey.…”