The theory of planned behavior and smoking cessation

A sample of 84 smokers attending health promotion clinics in a primary care setting completed questionnaires that assessed the main constructs of the theory of planned behavior, perceived susceptibility, and past cessation at tempts. Regression analyses revealed that intention to quit smoking was pri marily predicted by perceived behavioral control and perceived susceptibili ty. At B-month follow-up, the making of a quit attempt was predicted by int ention and the number of previous quit attempts, whereas the length of the quit attempt was predicted solely by the length of the longest recent quit attempt. The results suggest that interventions should focus on perceptions of susceptibility and control to increase smokers' motivation to quit. How ever, further work is required to identify the social cognitive variables t hat ensure that initial quit attempts are translated into longer term absti nence.