The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 among Treatment-Seeking Smokers: A Mixed Methods Approach

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on behavioral health, including tobacco use, are not fully known. The current study sought to measure the perceived impact of COVID-19 and the resulting stay-at-home orders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York on smokers enrolled in four smoking cessation trials between March 2020 and July 2020. The survey collected quantitative data regarding life changes due to COVID-19, health/exposure status, and the impact on their cessation attempt (e.g., motivation to quit, change in triggers). The questionnaire collected qualitative data to better understand how such changes could explain changes in smoking behavior. Of the 42 participants surveyed, approximately half indicated that COVID-19 changed their motivation and ability to quit or remain quit. Among those who reported that it was easier to quit following the stay-at-home orders (n = 24), most attributed this to concerns regarding the severity of COVID-19 among smokers. Among those who reported more difficulty quitting (n = 15), most attributed this to their increased stress due to the pandemic and the inability to access activities, places, or people that could help them manage triggers. Given public health warnings of continued surges in COVID-19, these data provide insight into who may benefit from further smoking cessation support should existing restrictions or new stay-at-home orders be enacted.

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Sex differences in self-report anxiety and sleep quality during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders

Biology of Sex Differences ◽

10.1186/s13293-020-00333-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jeremy A. Bigalke ◽

Ian M. Greenlund ◽

Jason R. Carter

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

State Anxiety ◽

Severity Index ◽

Self Report ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Chi Square ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

Abstract Background COVID-19 and home isolation has impacted quality of life, but the perceived impact on anxiety and sleep remains equivocal. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders on self-report anxiety and sleep quality, with a focus on sex differences. We hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic would be associated with increased anxiety and decreased sleep quality, with stronger associations in women. Methods One hundred three participants (61 female, 38 ± 1 years) reported perceived changes in anxiety and sleep quality due to stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic and were administered the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Chi-square and T test analyses were utilized to assess sex differences in reported anxiety and sleep. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the associations between reported impact of COVID-19 and anxiety/sleep parameters. Results Women (80.3%) reported higher prevalence of increased general anxiety due to COVID-19 when compared to men (50%; p = 0.001) and elevated STAI state anxiety compared to men (43 ± 1 vs. 38 ± 1 a.u., p = 0.007). Despite these differences in anxiety, the perceived impact of COVID-19 on PSQI was not different between sexes. However, when stratified by perceived changes in anxiety due to COVID-19, participants with higher anxiety responses to COVID-19 had higher ISI compared to those with no perceived changes in anxiety (9 ± 1 vs. 5 ± 1 a.u., p = 0.003). Additionally, participants who reported reduced sleep quality due to COVID-19 reported higher state anxiety (45 ± 1 a.u.) compared to those that perceived no change (36 ± 2 a.u., p = 0.002) or increased (36 ± 2 a.u., p < 0.001) sleep quality. Conclusion COVID-19 and state-ordered home isolation was associated with higher anxiety and reduced sleep quality, with a stronger association in women with respect to anxiety.

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Financial Hardship, Motivation to Quit and Post-Quit Spending Plans among Low-Income Smokers Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Trial

Substance Abuse Research and Treatment ◽

10.1177/1178221819878765 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

pp. 117822181987876 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Erin Rogers ◽

Jose Palacios ◽

Elizabeth Vargas ◽

Christina Wysota ◽

Marc Rosen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Financial Distress ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Financial Hardship ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Motivation To Quit ◽

Trial Testing

Background: Tobacco spending may exacerbate financial hardship in low-income populations by using funds that could go toward essentials. This study examined post-quit spending plans among low-income smokers and whether financial hardship was positively associated with motivation to quit in the sample. Methods: We analyzed data from the baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial testing novel a smoking cessation intervention for low-income smokers in New York City ( N = 410). Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between financial distress, food insecurity, smoking-induced deprivation (SID) and motivation to quit (measured on a 0-10 scale). We performed summative content analyses of open-ended survey questions to identify the most common plans among participants with and without SID for how to use their tobacco money after quitting. Results: Participants had an average level of motivation to quit of 7.7 ( SD = 2.5). Motivation to quit was not significantly related to having high financial distress or food insecurity ( P > .05), but participants reporting SID had significantly lower levels of motivation to quit than those without SID ( M = 7.4 versus 7.9, P = .04). Overall, participants expressed an interest in three main types of spending for after they quit: Purchases, Activities, and Savings/Investing, which could be further conceptualized as spending on Oneself or Family, and on Needs or Rewards. The top three spending plans among participants with and without SID were travel, clothing and savings. There were three needs-based spending plans unique to a small number of participants with SID: housing, health care and education. Conclusions: Financial distress and food insecurity did not enhance overall motivation to quit, while smokers with SID were less motivated to quit. Most low-income smokers, including those with SID, did not plan to use their tobacco money on household essentials after quitting.

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LGBT* After Loss: A Mixed-Method Analysis on the Effect of Partner Bereavement on Interpersonal Relationships and Subsequent Partnerships

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222819831524 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 003022281983152

Author(s):

Rachael Nolan ◽

Chelsey Kirkland ◽

Ronald Davis

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Mixed Methods Approach ◽

Social Patterns ◽

The Impact ◽

Method Analysis ◽

Insight Into

Grief and bereavement are universal human experiences that do not discriminate based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation. Existing literature provides valuable insight into the bereavement experiences of persons who identify as heterosexuals, but much less can be found on persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender/queer* (LGBT*). Given that the historical experiences of loss and personal characteristics such as interpersonal, familial, and social patterns of coping with grief are likely to influence the bereavement process, this study focused on the impact of partner bereavement on the interpersonal relationships and subsequent partnerships of the LGBT* bereaved. To this end, the purpose of this study was to use a mixed-methods approach to better understand how LGBT* persons described their experiences with partner bereavement and to identify what effect these experiences had on interpersonal relationships and subsequent partnerships.

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Trends in AIDS Epidemic

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.92.4.636 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

pp. 636-636

Author(s):

ANDREW F. SHORR

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

The Past ◽

Aids Epidemic ◽

Interesting Insight ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Acquired Immunodeficiency ◽

Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽

The Impact ◽

Insight Into

Futterman et al provide interesting insight into the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among adolescents in New York City and into the impact the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has had on this population. In their conclusion, however, they misrepresent the data regarding HIV and AIDS among youth. More specifically, they write, "Reported AIDS cases among adolescents increased by over 77% over the past two years. . ." By using cumulative percent data for AIDS cases, they distort the true picture. The actual data reveal that the number of AIDS cases in this population has dropped during the past year.

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An Evaluation of a Therapist-Administered Bibliotherapy and Spouse Smoking Habits on Smoking Behavior

Journal of Drug Education ◽

10.2190/60wj-jh77-fcxb-nvwd ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 327-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Barbara L. Seibel

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Treatment Program ◽

Group Treatment ◽

Resistance To Change ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Important Variable ◽

Individual Treatment ◽

Stop Smoking ◽

The Individual ◽

The Impact

This study attempted to evaluate a readily available comprehensive bibliotherapy smoking cessation program and the impact of smoking and nonsmoking behavior of a spouse on the individual to stop smoking. It provided a valuable source of client evaluation and stimulation for future investigation. The results suggest that motivation is an important variable in smoking cessation. Further, there is a need to develop a continuum of care to include: directed health education, self-administered treatment, therapist-administered group treatment, therapist-administered individual treatment, and detoxification coupled with continuing group support. Habit formation or resistance to change, and motivation may be primary factors in determining placement on this continuum. Finally, professional responsibility is important: What levels of success should a consumer and/or professional expect of a broadly available treatment program? What are the risks of failure?

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A mixed-methods longitudinal evaluation of a one-day mental health wellness intervention

Health Education Journal ◽

10.1177/0017896916662075 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

pp. 244-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Louise Doyle ◽

Jan de Vries ◽

Agnes Higgins ◽

Brian Keogh ◽

Padraig McBennett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Mixed Methods Approach ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

The Republic ◽

Wellness Intervention ◽

The Impact

Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of a one-day mental health Wellness Workshop on participants’ mental health and attitudes towards mental health. Design: Convergent, longitudinal mixed-methods approach. Setting: The study evaluated Wellness Workshops which took place throughout the Republic of Ireland. Method: Questionnaires measuring hope, mental health self-efficacy, attitudes towards mental health and perceived impact on wellbeing were administered to participants before the workshop ( n = 415), 1 week after ( n = 221) and 3 months after ( n = 110). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 24 participants to generate a more in-depth understanding of the impact of the workshop. Results: Quantitative findings relating to hope, mental health self-efficacy and attitudes towards mental health did not identify statistically significant changes; however, participants’ perceptions of the effect of the workshop on wellbeing suggested a positive impact which was maintained over time. Qualitative findings, however, suggested that hope and self-efficacy were improved and the simplicity and utility of the wellness strategies disseminated in the workshop, in addition to the warmth and openness of the narrative approach used by the facilitators, were central to the perceived positive impact. Conclusion: This evaluation demonstrates the potential for wellness interventions to have a subjective improvement in wellbeing in members of the general public.

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A Qualitative Study of the Impact of COVID-19 on Smoking Behavior for Participants in a Post-Hospitalization Smoking Cessation Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105404 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5404

Author(s):

Kristina Schnitzer ◽

Sarah Jones ◽

Jennifer H. K. Kelley ◽

Hilary A. Tindle ◽

Nancy A. Rigotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Perceived Control ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Coping Skills ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Transactional Model ◽

Individual Interviews ◽

Dispositional Coping ◽

Perceived Impacts ◽

The Impact

(1) Background: COVID-19 has substantially altered individual environments and behaviors. We aim to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the smoking behavior of individuals trying to quit tobacco. (2) Methods: This study presents a qualitative analysis of individual interviews focused on perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco use among 39 participants in the Helping HAND 4 (HH4) post-hospitalization smoking cessation trial (NCT03603496). (3) Results: Emergent impacts of COVID-19 included change in routine, isolation, employment changes, and financial challenges; these in turn were associated with boredom, altered cravings and triggers, and increased stress. The availability of effective coping mechanisms instead of smoking to deal with stress heavily influenced subsequent smoking behavior. These results were triangulated with the Transactional Model of Stress, providing a framework to elucidate connections between factors such as perceived control, self-efficacy, and dispositional coping style, and highlighting potential areas for intervention. (4) Conclusions: Results suggest that stress during the COVID-19 pandemic may undermine effective coping skills among individuals enrolled in a post-hospitalization smoking cessation trial. Strengthening effective coping skills (e.g., minimizing the use of tobacco as a default stress response) and increasing perceived control and self-efficacy are promising intervention targets.

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A Qualitative Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Behavior and Attitudes of Smokers and Non-smokers in South Korea

10.21203/rs.3.rs-478285/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jieun Hwang ◽

Hae-ryong Chun ◽

Eunsil Cheon

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Secondhand Smoke ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Human Society ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Group Interviews ◽

Education Culture ◽

The Impact ◽

Exposure To Secondhand Smoke

Abstract BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of human society, including education, culture, and economy, and has also brought changes in health behaviors such as drinking alcohol, nutrition intake, and practicing healthy living. This study conducted a qualitative research in the Korean context to examine the changes in the smoking behavior of smokers and secondhand smoke exposure of non-smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods Focus group interviews were conducted with 36 Korean participants (18 men and 18 women): groups were composed of cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users, heated tobacco products users, or non-smokers. ResultsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless tobacco products, in the case of users who were not participating in engaging in social interaction, such as working from home or online classes, the frequency of using increased, and for users who continued engaging in social interactions, the amount of using increased each time they used. Smokers showed a tendency to avoid smoking rooms and to smoke alone in places where there were no people. In addition, non-smokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke did not decrease, but since non-smokers used masks, they reported more relief about the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke than before.ConclusionsSmokers being a high-risk group for COVID-19 did not result in smoking cessation among smokers. Therefore, policy and educational campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and to encourage smoking cessation are needed in the future.

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Behavioral and Subjective Effects of Reducing Nicotine in Cigarettes: A Cessation Commentary

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntz100 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S19-S21 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Megan E Piper ◽

David J Drobes ◽

Natalie Walker

Keyword(s):

Subjective Effects ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Limited Evidence ◽

Moderate Evidence ◽

Quit Attempt ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Motivation To Quit ◽

Cigarette Dependence ◽

The Impact

Abstract This commentary addresses critical questions regarding the impact of the reduction of nicotine on changes in smoking behavior. There appears to be moderate evidence that use of reduced nicotine cigarettes (RNC) increases the likelihood of making a quit attempt among smokers unmotivated to quit and among smokers motivated to quit who also used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). There was limited evidence that RNC combined with NRT increased smoking abstinence, regardless of motivation to quit. Several plausible mechanisms via which RNC may influence smoking behavior, including reducing dependence, are reviewed. The moderate evidence that abrupt reduction in nicotine reduces self-reported dependence as well as smoking behavior and likelihood of relapse is also reviewed. The data reviewed here suggest that abrupt switching to, and extended use of, RNC can reduce cigarette dependence and several related constructs, including the ability to quit smoking. The data reviewed in this commentary suggest that abrupt reduction in the level of nicotine in combustible cigarettes could reduce smoking behavior, nicotine dependence, and other related constructs and increase quit attempts and eventual smoking cessation.

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The Smoking Mind: A Psycho-Cognitive Perspective

Beiträge zur Tabakforschung International/Contributions to Tobacco Research ◽

10.1515/cttr-2017-0004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 33-41

Author(s):

Marianna Masiero ◽

Chiara Renzi ◽

Gabriella Pravettoni

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Smoking Initiation ◽

Cognitive Mechanisms ◽

Cognitive Components ◽

Risk Judgment ◽

Tobacco Cigarette ◽

Smoking Behaviors ◽

The Impact

Summary Smoking behavior involves not only a biological addiction, but also psycho-cognitive components. This runs from smoking initiation, through to maintaining, attempts at quitting, and relapse. This perspective is an important element in studying and intervening in smoking behaviors. The main aim of this narrative review is to explore tobacco cigarette smoking behavior, considering the pivotal role of cognitive mechanisms embedded in decision-making and in risk judgment, with particular attention to the so-called Optimistic Bias (OB). The mechanisms through which this fallacy supports smoking initiation and continuance are explored, considering the transition from young to adult smokers and the case of light and intermittent smokers. Furthermore, additional cognitive mechanisms associated with the OB, which sustain smoking behavior and prevent the efficacy of smoking cessation, are described. Finally, a stimulus for reflection and for discussion about how the impact of the cognitive bias perspective in tobacco cigarette smoking is provided, focusing on how it could support tailored interventions, both in smoking initiation prevention in adolescents and young adults, as well as in smoking cessation in high-risk categories.

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