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Table 7 Connectedness of behaviour change

From: Eating the elephant whole or in slices: views of participants in a smoking cessation intervention trial on multiple behaviour changes as sequential or concurrent tasks

Theme:

Illustrative quotations

Vicious circles

67(C): When I never had a cigarette I had this in my head … your lungs start clearing … inside me is getting cleared out so I’ll watch what I’m putting in … I was drinking plenty of water, fruit, vegetables, exercise every day and when I went back on the cigarettes, to hang with it, I started eating, fruit and veg is out the window and I’m back to the old sort of style [and] I’m actually smoking more. [NQ, >3%, 24th week]

 

3(I): I’m angry at myself [for over-eating] – I shouldn’t be giving in to it – I’m actually worrying about it and, you know, it’s making me want to smoke … it’s a vicious circle really. [Q, >3%, 6th week]

Virtuous circles

65(I): If you’re eating the right stuff and you see yourself not putting on weight and feel fitter it gives you that extra gee to get up in the morning, your chest’s clear, you’ve not got a smoker’s cough, overall you feel better. [Q, >3%, 24th week]

 

34(I): It [smoking cessation] is making me want to go to the gym and get my fitness back – if you’re feeling fit and you’ve got it in your mind that you’ve given up the smoking and you’re putting all the good nutrients into your body, well, aye, that would drive me on. [DO, 6th week]

  1. Q- quitter; NQ-non-quitter; 6th week – 6th week interview; 24th week – 24th week interview.