Page 125 - Petelin, Ana. 2024. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih | Health of the Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik prispevkov z recenzijo | Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press

https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-397-5.125-134

Smoking habits of older adults in Slovenia
– analysis of Quitline calls

1
Saša Šajn Lekše, Tomaž Čakš 2
1 Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2 National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Introduction: Older smokers have a higher risk of serious health
complications and death. Quitting smoking in old age has many benefits,
but older adults are often overlooked. Literature published in the last five
years cites various percentages of older smokers worldwide, between 8 to
12 % of people over the age of 65. World No Tobacco Day 2023 states that
cessation interventions should also target older smokers. An analysis of
10 European countries showed that changes in legislation did not reduce
the prevalence of smoking among people over 65 years of age. Methods:
A qualitative content analysis of secondary sources was used. The data
were obtained from the recorded summaries of calls to the Slovenian
telephone line for smoking cessation (Quitline) in 2022. A purposeful
sample of the records of anonymous telephone conversations with
people over 60 years of age was used. Results: 43 older adults contacted
Quitline in one year and two main themes have been identified: factors
that facilitate smoking (theme 1) and factors that facilitate non-smoking
(theme 2). Caller average age was 67 years, smoking for more than
45 years, 20 cigarettes a day. They all had at least one experience of
quitting. They mostly relapsed due to stressful life changes. Smoking
is perpetuated through boredom or lack of activity. In several callers,
counsellors detected signs that may point to psychiatric health problems.
Older adults often smoke while drinking coffee. Women prefer to smoke
alone. Many of them still smoke indoors. The most frequently mentioned
health problems were: arterial hypertension, old myocardial infarction,
shortness of breath, cough, COPD, asthma, diabetes. Health and saving
money were the most common motivational factors for quitting. They
often wanted quick quitting solutions. Discussion and conclusions: Less
than a half of older smokers know smoking is harmful. They believe
quitting would not improve their health and passive smoking is not
harmful to others. A lower education level indicates less knowledge.