RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the characteristics of the experience leading to successful smoking cessation and to examine the nature of smoking cessation support to capture these characteristics. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 30-60 minutes with 14 middle-aged male workers, who smoked an average of five or more cigarettes per day, and had currently quit smoking for more than six months without any treatment. Questionnaire items included the reasons for attempting to quit smoking, the methods used, changes in feelings and situations during the smoking cessation effort, past experience of failure, and current notions. To extract labels, subcategories, categories, and core categories, a verbatim record was made and analyzed qualitatively and inductively. RESULTS: Overall, 683 labels, 117 subcategories, 32 categories, and 9 core categories were extracted. The core categories were indicated by ã ã and the categories by ⪠â«. The participants expressed ãhesitation about the challenge of quitting smokingã and ãskepticism about remaining a smokerã owing to changes in the society surrounding smokers, and were ãpreparing to face a difficult challengeã. After commencing the challenge, the smokers were ãable to achieve success in quitting smokingã as they continued to ãtry and find ways to quit smoking that suited themã and go through the ãbattle against the urge to smoke using "my energy as a shield"ã in the midst of ãpain associated with withdrawal from cigarettesã. They were able to ãestablish a way of life as a successful nonsmokerã by continuing to quit smoking, while simultaneously experiencing ãthe confusion encountered after smoking cessationã. Categories indicating relationships with others, such as ãavoiding negative images due to smokingã, ã protecting one's pride against othersã, and ãexperiencing pleasure at being recognized by othersã were extracted. CONCLUSION: The results showed that ãskepticism about remaining a smokerã was seen as a turning point in the challenge of quitting smoking. Taking an approach that leads to this feeling is important for smokers. After quitting smoking, continuous follow-up is believed to be necessary to reduce ãthe confusion encountered after smoking cessationã and continue to ãestablish a way of life as a successful nonsmokerã. This study revealed that "public self-consciousness" leads to behavioral changes toward smoking cessation, suggesting the possibility of new findings.