Between Awareness and Addiction: Smoking Experiences of Healthcare and Non-Healthcare Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31436/ijcs.v8i2.432Keywords:
Smoking, Smoking experience, Smoking cessation motivation, Health impact, Health workersAbstract
Background: Smoking remains a significant public health concern and is still observed among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers, although its prevalence varies across contexts and professions. This habit may begin due to social influence, curiosity, or as a coping mechanism for stress. Participants described being aware of the health risks, financial burdens, and, in some cases, conflicting feelings related to their smoking behavior. However, many expressed difficulties in quitting, often citing persistent social and environmental influences. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences, motivations, and challenges faced by individuals related to smoking.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was employed to explore and compare how healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers experience and interpret their smoking behavior in light of their social and professional roles. The participants in this study were four healthcare workers and five participants were non-healthcare workers who had a minimum of two years of active smoking experience.
Results: The results indicated that smoking emerged during adolescence due to social influence and curiosity. Over time, smoking became a means of coping with stress for the participants. Participants had an understanding of the health effects, moral dilemmas experienced and significant financial impact, participants still had difficulty stopping smoking due to social influence.
Conclusion: The majority of participants have motivation to quit smoking for various reasons such as health effects, moral conflicts faced, and financial consequences. However, nicotine addiction, alongside the social environment, continues to play a major role in sustaining the smoking habit.
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