[Factors predictive of good motivation to quit smoking among Moroccan smokers attending a lung disease outpatient clinic in 2008].

Background: Motivations for cessation of smoking should be studied to determine which factors have an impact. Educational messages can then be developed to help smokers become more successful in adopting healthy behavior. The objective of our work was to determine the factors influencing the quality of motivation for smoking cessation among patients attending a lung disease clinic.

Methods: Between March and June 2008, patients attending the outpatient clinical of the Moulay Youssef Hospital Department of Pneumology in Rabat were studied. Data on the smoking status and motivation to stop smoking (Richmond's test) were collected using a standardized questionnaire. A logistic regression model was developed to analyze the quality of their motivation to quit smoking.

Results: The median age for smoking the first cigarette was low (<20 years); pharmacological dependence on nicotine was low (Fagerström score<8 in 71.8%). More than a third of patients (36.6%) had already intended to cease smoking. According to the Richmond test, only 46.0% were well motivated (score>or=8). At multivariate analysis, factors predictive of a good motivation to quit smoking were a previous attempt to stop smoking (OR=5.4 [2.5-11.7]), severe disease (OR=3.7 [1.6-8.2]). Beginning the tobacco addiction before the age of 18 years was predictive of poor motivation (OR=2.7 [1.4-5.3]).

Conclusion: Our investigation provides evidence in favor of searching for different factors which might affect motivation to stop smoking among patients seeking care in a lung disease clinic. Lung specialists, who manage the large majority of these patients should be particularly active in this area.