The attitudes of healthy people about smoking and their knowledge about smoking cessation

Aim: To investigate the attitudes of different sections of society about smoking and the level of knowledge about quitting smoking. Method: The 32-question evaluation questionnaire was administered to volunteers under supervision. Demographic characteristics, starting time, reasons and duration of smoking, smoking together with family members, hazards of smoking, protection from harmful effects, cigarette quitting methods, reasons for not quitting were analyzed. Results: A total of 273 people participated in this study. 34.4% of participants were college and 19.4% were health personnel. The reason for starting smoking was priority due to the encouraging of friends and secondly due to curiosity. There were 41 people who started smoking after marriage. While 21,1% people were smoking less than 5 years, A 32.3% of participants were smoking over 20 years old. The survey results were as follows: Cigarette smoking in the family 67.5% Compliance with the smoking ban at work 78.7% Knowing harms of smoking 97.4% Explanation of the harms of cigarette smoking to child 86.6% Request to quit smoking 66.2% Suggestion by doctor for quit smoking 57.7% Knowing smoking cessation methods 13.5% Receiving expert help for smoking cessation %2 Knowing smoking cessation outpatient clinics 45% 86.5% of participants knew at least one smoking cessation method. The education level correlated with the number of known smoking cessation methods (r=0.391, p <0.001). Conclusion: Our study shows that the society9s awareness about smoking was increase. Because of the low rate of awareness about smoking cessation methods and support centers it is necessary to increase the number of these centers and social awareness.