2018 Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 15-23
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the psychological process of stopping smoking and continuing to be smoke free by outpatients of a Stop-Smoking Clinic.
Method: Six outpatients of a stop-smoking clinic were interviewed after visiting the clinic for three months, （from the initial visit until the last visit）．Results were analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach.
Results: Various stages were observed within the process: from “developing the desire to quit smoking” and “preparing to organize one’s feelings” at the initial visit, “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and relaxing a little” after starting to stop smoking by “consciously working to change one’s mind to quit,” and “definitely deciding to stop” by the end of the visits. Self-anxiety which decided smoking cessation at the initial visit changed to feelings of confidence through the above-described process. It was observed that “self-anxieties decreased but could not be completely eliminated” even to the end, and these two processes mutually existed. However, psychological support by family and clinic staff encouraged the stopping of smoking.
Discussion: While anxiety regarding being able to continue to stop smoking were concurrently present, a psychological process where feelings of achievement in overcoming difficulties and gaining a feeling of self-efficacy were found to connect to the continuation of efforts to stop smoking.
