A HEALTH BELIEF PERSPECTIVE OF QUIT SMOKING CLINIC ATTENDEES INTENTION TO QUIT SMOKING

Abstract

The Malaysian government has committed itself to reduce uptake in smoking and increase smoking cessation using a multiple approach strategy. One of the most significant media campaigns undertaken by the government is the anti-smoking Tak Nak! campaign. This aggressive campaign based on fear provocation in the mainstream media and on-pack cigarette advertising is to drive smokers to seek help from the Stop Smoking Clinics established nationwide. This research is aimed at testing the Health Belief Model (HBM) to identify personal variables that can influence intentions to quit smoking. A total of 133 respondents were selected from three main Stop Smoking Clinics in Kuala Lumpur based on a purposive sampling approach. Correlations between independent HBM variables and quit intentions (dependent variable) showed that perceived susceptibility, cues to action, and self-efficacy were positively and significantly correlated with the quit intentions.