A Combined Method of Smoking Cessation in Mining Company Workers

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is considered to be one of the unhealthiest habits. Changing smoking behavior is a difficult goal and the smoker needs multifaceted support from experts to successfully complete his effort.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to implement a combined method for smoking cessation which apart from special smoking cessation sessions also included nutrition and exercise sessions.

Material and Method: The sample consisted of 30 employees of a mining company with an average age of 45 years. the participants attended 12 weekly individual sessions, which were carried out by a smoking cessation specialist, 6 weekly individual or group sessions for exercise and 6 nutrition sessions.

Results: The motivations for participation, the barriers that may stop them from trying to quit smoking, the maintenance of smoking behavior, as well as the reasons for leaving the program, were the factors that described the participants’ attitudes towards smoking cessation. Their motivation was to be healthy, while a barrier for them was the fear of weight gaining. However the fear was reduced after the exercise and diet sessions. What is more, stress and personal reasons may have forced them to return to smoking.

Conclusions: The smoking cessation program was effective and the exercise and diet sessions were found to be extremely beneficial in helping people quit smoking.