TITLE:
Identifying Distinct Quitting Trajectories after an Unassisted Smoking Cessation Attempt: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
AUTHORS:
Monica S. Bachmann, Hansjörg Znoj, Jeannette Brodbeck
KEYWORDS:
Smoking Cessation; Lapse; Relapse Process; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Self-Quitter
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Psychology,
Vol.1 No.3,
July
18,
2012
ABSTRACT: Objectives: This study aimed at identifying distinct quitting trajectories over 29 days after an unassisted smoking ces- sation attempt by ecological momentary assessment (EMA). In order to validate these trajectories we tested if they predict smoking frequency up to six months later. Methods: EMA via mobile phones was used to collect real time data on smoking (yes/no) after an unassisted quit attempt over 29 days. Smoking frequency one, three and six months after the quit attempt was assessed with online questionnaires. Latent class growth modeling was used to analyze the data of 230 self-quitters. Results: Four different quitting trajectories emerged: quitter (43.9%), late quitter (11.3%), returner (17%) and persistent smoker (27.8%). The quitting trajectories predicted smoking frequency one, three and six months after the quit attempt (all p