Table 1 Themes identified in women Veteran’s quit smoking attempts
From: Helping women veterans quit smoking: a qualitative analysis of successful and unsuccessful attempts
Quotes from Successful Attempts | Quotes from Unsuccessful Attempts | |
|---|---|---|
Health and Well-Being | “For me not to smoke like that, […] I was in a good relationship, I had a steady income, I had my daughter around me. I had a happier life.” –Roberta, smoking but quit for 9 years previously with nicotine inhaler | “[It] might be a little different if […] I get to a better weight, I get to a better feeling, physical feeling […], and maybe I do something more than walk, maybe I would say ‘OK, well now it’s time.’” –Marie, smoking |
Smoking as an Addiction | “Everything you do is associated with smoking. […] It’s what makes it hard to quit. […] I needed something. That’s why I went to the doctor to get bupropion.” –Jenny, quit for 3 weeks on nicotine patches | “I don’t see smoking as horrible as alcoholism […] Like ‘Oh, quitting smoking, I can do this. I don’t need to call and whatever.’ That’s just been my mindset.” –Jessica, smoking |
Optimism | “I have more resources like to be able to buy things […] that are good for me, and now […] I can afford to try and cope. The varenicline helps take that edge off […] because I feel great. I wish I could stay this way all the time.’” –Christy, quit for 2 months on varenicline | “If I’ve tried to quit in the past, […] this sounds really pessimistic, but something always seems to go wrong. […] Which, you know, aggravates me to the extent where I’m just going to smoke again and everything will be OK’” –Jessica, smoking |
Resilience | “[Slipping] doesn’t make you a terrible person. If you, you know, slip, […] you can still get back on track.’” –Samantha, quit for 2 years without medications | “You just feel like, well, kind of just, throw your hands up. You’re like ‘well, I already fell, […] I’m already doing it now so I can’t say three months anymore.’” –Rachel, smoking |