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O consumo de tabaco numa instituição universitária: Prevalência e características do fumador
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
O tabagismo tem-se revelado como um grande inimigo
da saúde pública e concomitantemente como um dos
comportamentos mais difíceis de mudar. Muitos fumadores
adquirem uma dependência fisiológica da nicotina associada
ao “hábito” o que pode provocar uma síndrome de abstinência
difícil de ultrapassar. Os processos neurobiológicos
da nicotina têm vindo a ser amplamente estudados
e tornando-se parcialmente responsáveis pelas reduzidas
taxas de cessação a longo prazo nos estudos publicados.
Considerando o passado recente da restrição ao tabagismo
em Portugal (2008) e dado que a FPCE-UP foi considerada
livre de fumo dois anos antes, foram propostos os seguintes
objectivos para este artigo: analisar a prevalência na referida
instituição; caracterizar o fumador quanto ao número
de cigarros fumados e anos de fumador através da UMA;
comparar fumadores que já tiveram períodos de abstinência
com outros fumadores que nunca tentaram deixar
de fumar quanto ao número de cigarros e anos de fumador;
e comparar ex-fumadores com fumadores que já estiveram
abstinentes quanto ao tempo de abstinência conseguida
e número de tentativas. Partindo da análise de conteúdo
de questões abertas foram ainda delineados os seguintes
objectivos de natureza qualitativa: identificar as razões
que mantêm os ex-fumadores abstinentes; identificar
sintomas de abstinência nos fumadores que já estiveram
sem fumar; identificar os motivos que levaram os fumadores
a tentar deixar de fumar em algum período das suas
vidas e, por último, identificar os motivos da recaída.
Os questionários foram enviados via Internet à população
da instituição (alunos, docentes e funcionários),
tendo-se obtido uma amostra total de 289 sujeitos respondentes.
Foram encontradas taxas de prevalência de fumador
mais elevadas que as referenciadas noutros estudos em
Portugal (29,4%), sobretudo no que se reporta, ao género
(Masculino: 44,4%; Feminino: 27,3%) e situação (docente:
30%; aluno: 28,6%). A caracterização do fumador revelou
o índice da UMA de 6,9. Não foram observadas diferenças
estatisticamente significativas entre os fumadores que
já deixaram de fumar e os sempre fumadores quanto ao
padrão de fumo. Observámos diferenças estatisticamente
significativas entre ex-fumadores e fumadores que já
deixaram de fumar quanto ao tempo de abstinência conseguida,
mas não quanto ao número de tentativas. Constatámos
que 88,5% dos ex-fumadores referenciaram sentir-se
melhor por ter deixado de fumar, apontando benefícios
imediatos na saúde. Um outro dado interessante referido
por 50% de respondentes do mesmo grupo foi a sensação
de liberdade/auto-controlo sentida por terem deixado
de fumar. Entre os fumadores que já tentaram deixar
de fumar 74% relataram síndrome de abstinência em mais
que uma categoria, sendo as perturbações de humor (81,2%)
a principal queixa, seguida de sintomas psicossomáticos
(37,5%). As razões apontadas pelos fumadores para terem
tentado deixar de fumar foram informação sobre os malefícios
do tabaco (60%), seguindo-se os motivos de doença
(28%). Entre aos motivos apontados na base da recaída
salientam-se os sintomas incómodos que não passaram
com o tempo (52%) e, em menor escala, o prazer (24%)
e a pressão social (24%). Os resultados foram discutidos
à luz das teorias actuais de intervenção na dependência
tabágica.
ABSTRACT: Cigarette smoking has been considered one of the great enemies to public health, as well as one of the hardest to change human behaviors. For many smokers, the association between the physiological nicotine dependence and the habit of smoking makes it harder to overcome the abstinence symptoms. It has been widely investigated the partial contribution of neurobiological processes of nicotine dependence to the reduced rates of long term smoking cessation found in longitudinal studies. Considering the smoking restriction policy that has been adopted for the last two years in the Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education of the University of Oporto, in Portugal (FPCE-UP) and which was implemented nationwide only recently (in 2008), the present study aimed at: analyzing the prevalence of smoking in this institution; characterizing the smokers’ sample as to the number of cigarettes smoked and duration of smoking habits through cigarette pack-years (CPY); comparing former smokers to current smokers who were abstinent for some period in the past, as to the maximum abstinence time and number of cessation attempts. The content analysis of open questions lead to the formulation of more qualitative objectives: to identify the reasons why former smokers have maintained abstinent; to identify the abstinence symptoms felt by current smokers who stopped smoking sometime in the past; to identify the smokers’ motives for smoking cessation attempts at some period in their lives; and, finally, to identify the motives for relapse. The questionnaires were administered via the Internet to the universe of students, teachers and staff of FPCE-UP. A total sample of 289 subjects was obtained. Higher prevalence of cigarette smoking (29,4%) was found, comparatively with other Portuguese studies, mainly in what concerns distribution by gender (Men: 44%; Women: 27.3%) and institutional situation (teacher: 30%; student: 28.6%). The smokers’ characterization 225 revealed a CPY of 6.9. No significant statistical differences were found between current smokers who were abstinent for some time and smokers who were never abstinent as to the smoking patterns. Significant statistical differences were found between former smokers and current smokers who were abstinent for some time, as to the maximum abstinence time achieved, but not as to the number of cessation attempts. 88.5% of former smokers mentioned feeling better after having quit smoking, pointing out immediate health benefits. An interesting result was that 50% of the same group mentioned a sense of freedom and/or self-control after having quit smoking. Among the current smokers who have already tried quitting, 74% describe abstinence symptoms in more than one category, being mood disturbances (81.2%) and psychosomatic symptoms (37.5%) the more frequent complaints. The main motives pointed out by smokers for having tried to quit smoking were: information regarding the prejudicial effects of tobacco (60%) and illness (28%). As far of the motives for relapse are concerned, 52% pointed out the persistence of unpleasant symptoms, 24% the pleasure of smoking and 24% social pressure. Results were discussed according to current theoretical models of intervention in nicotine dependence.
ABSTRACT: Cigarette smoking has been considered one of the great enemies to public health, as well as one of the hardest to change human behaviors. For many smokers, the association between the physiological nicotine dependence and the habit of smoking makes it harder to overcome the abstinence symptoms. It has been widely investigated the partial contribution of neurobiological processes of nicotine dependence to the reduced rates of long term smoking cessation found in longitudinal studies. Considering the smoking restriction policy that has been adopted for the last two years in the Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education of the University of Oporto, in Portugal (FPCE-UP) and which was implemented nationwide only recently (in 2008), the present study aimed at: analyzing the prevalence of smoking in this institution; characterizing the smokers’ sample as to the number of cigarettes smoked and duration of smoking habits through cigarette pack-years (CPY); comparing former smokers to current smokers who were abstinent for some period in the past, as to the maximum abstinence time and number of cessation attempts. The content analysis of open questions lead to the formulation of more qualitative objectives: to identify the reasons why former smokers have maintained abstinent; to identify the abstinence symptoms felt by current smokers who stopped smoking sometime in the past; to identify the smokers’ motives for smoking cessation attempts at some period in their lives; and, finally, to identify the motives for relapse. The questionnaires were administered via the Internet to the universe of students, teachers and staff of FPCE-UP. A total sample of 289 subjects was obtained. Higher prevalence of cigarette smoking (29,4%) was found, comparatively with other Portuguese studies, mainly in what concerns distribution by gender (Men: 44%; Women: 27.3%) and institutional situation (teacher: 30%; student: 28.6%). The smokers’ characterization 225 revealed a CPY of 6.9. No significant statistical differences were found between current smokers who were abstinent for some time and smokers who were never abstinent as to the smoking patterns. Significant statistical differences were found between former smokers and current smokers who were abstinent for some time, as to the maximum abstinence time achieved, but not as to the number of cessation attempts. 88.5% of former smokers mentioned feeling better after having quit smoking, pointing out immediate health benefits. An interesting result was that 50% of the same group mentioned a sense of freedom and/or self-control after having quit smoking. Among the current smokers who have already tried quitting, 74% describe abstinence symptoms in more than one category, being mood disturbances (81.2%) and psychosomatic symptoms (37.5%) the more frequent complaints. The main motives pointed out by smokers for having tried to quit smoking were: information regarding the prejudicial effects of tobacco (60%) and illness (28%). As far of the motives for relapse are concerned, 52% pointed out the persistence of unpleasant symptoms, 24% the pleasure of smoking and 24% social pressure. Results were discussed according to current theoretical models of intervention in nicotine dependence.
Description
Keywords
Tabagismo Prevalência Recaída Cessação Smoking Prevalence Relapse Cessation
Citation
Analise Psicológica, 26(2), 209-226
Publisher
Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada