Smoking and smoking cessation among smokers in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION

This study assessed the general perceptions of smokers in Saudi Arabia about the harms of smoking and identified the different methods used by them to quit smoking.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed using an online self-administered questionnaire to assess the smoker's perceptions on smoking and ways to quit smoking. A convenience sample of 1358 participants aged ≥18 years were enrolled from December 2022 to February 2023. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software with p<0.05 indicating statistical significance.

RESULTS

A total of 1358 participants completed the online survey. Most of the respondents were smokers (63.3%; n=860). Forty-six percent of the participants (n=396) started smoking when they were aged <18 years. Around 71% of the participants did not like the presence of any family member who smokes. More than half (52%) of the participants admitted that friends are the main reason for beginning smoking. Around 40% (n=229) of the 860 participants were enrolled in a smoking cessation program at some point.

CONCLUSIONS

Around 46% of the study participants started smoking when they were aged <18 years. About two-thirds of them tried to quit smoking. Although many centers around the country are dedicated to helping smokers quit smoking, many smokers noted that their outreach should be further enhanced.