The Impact of Smoking Cessation Programs on Smoking-Related Health Belief and Rate of Quit-Smoking among Schizophrenic Patients

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a smoking cessation program in the change of schizophrenic patients' health beliefs(perception of susceptibility of smoking-induced diseases, severity of smoking-induced diseases, benefits of quit-smoking, and perception of disturbance of quit-smoking). Methods: This study was an interrupted time series with non-equivalent control group design. Subjects were divided into the experimental group of 23 patients, and the control group of 42 patients in a psychiatric hospital. The content of the smoking cessation program was modified from the American Lung Association 7-steps to a smoke-free life. Results: The analyses based on GEE (Generalized Estimated Equation) revealed that the perception of susceptibility of smoking-induced diseases, severity of smoking-induced diseases, and benefits of quit-smoking scored higher in the experimental group in incremental periods as they participated. In contrast, the perception of disturbance of quit-smoking scored rather lower. The control group, in comparison, remained to neutral. Conclusions: The differences highlighted the fact that schizophrenic patients were able to promulgate and participate in the plans of smoking cessation program.