Smoking Cessation: A Pilot Study of the Effects on Health-Related Quality of Life and Perceived Work Performance One Week into the Attempt

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Most patients attempting to quit smoking experience symptoms that may influence functioning and sense of well-being.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a pilot study to assess the acute effects of smoking cessation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and perceived work performance.

METHODS

Questionnaires were mailed to patients of a smoking-cessation program just prior to quit date and one week after they quit. The questionnaires included the Smoking Cessation Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Work Performance Scale (WPS). Other data included patient demographics, smoking duration, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence scale, and smoking status. Student's t-tests were used for pre–post comparisons as well as comparison between higher addiction and lower addiction groups, with p  0.05 used for determination of statistical significance.

RESULTS

Thirty-four respondents (higher addiction = 12, lower addiction = 22) averaged 48.6 ± 12.0 (mean ± SD) years of age and were primarily white (97.1%) and female (72.2%). From baseline to one week post-quit, there was significant worsening of anxiety (71.5 ± 25.1 to 61.1 ± 26.0; p = 0.04) and cognitive functioning (72.2 ± 20.4 to 61.3 ± 23.9; p = 0.02) scores and improved general health (65.2 ± 18.4 to 70.5 ± 16.9; p = 0.01). HRQoL scores for the lower addiction group were higher than those for the higher addiction group, significantly for sleep, cognitive functioning, anxiety, role emotional and mental health. Both groups experienced significant improvement in self-control. The lower addiction group had a significant decline in sleep, cognitive function, and anxiety, while only one domain changed significantly for the higher addiction group. There were no significant differences in WPS analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study found that, generally, HRQoL changes one week into a smoking cessation attempt. Smokers with higher addiction have lower HRQoL when they begin their cessation attempt, while smokers with lower addiction have greater change in HRQoL.