Choice And Motivation Means Success For Smokers
Who Want To Quit
May 31, 2007
Smokers who have a say in how they quit are more likely to try kicking the habit
and are more successful, according to new research at the University of
Rochester.
Rochester researcher Dr. Geoffrey Williams associate professor of medicine at
the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, unveiled new
findings at a Toronto conference this month that demonstrate patient involvement
in a quit plan leads to smokers who are more motivated to quit because they
genuinely want to, not because they are being nagged or bullied.
Williams was one of more than 300 researchers from 25 countries to gather at the
University of Toronto to discuss their work within Self-Determination Theory.
This groundbreaking psychological theory of human motivation was developed by
University of Rochester psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan.
Williams' team of researchers found that smokers who were counseled in a manner
that encouraged them to reflect on whether they wanted to smoke or not, and if
not why they were trying to quit, were more likely to maintain their abstinence
for two years than those who received usual care.
Participants in the control group were simply given a list of quit resources in
the community and were encouraged to visit their doctors for help, while
participants in the special program received one-on-one counseling and more.
Williams said patients in the cessation program were asked about their
willingness to and confidence in quitting, their history with tobacco, general
medical history, and even their life aspirations. Smokers in the program were
also encouraged to take part in developing a personalized quit plan by providing
input and perspective on how smoking fit into their lives and which aspects of
quitting were most daunting.
The support and choice patients received in the program resulted in a greater
motivation to quit, willingness to try medications, higher levels of commitment
to quit plans, and ultimately, more successes. Williams said the cessation plan
offered additional support to smokers that a typical doctor's office doesn't.
"I don't think they get enough time and I don't think they get enough input
and choice into the quit plan," Williams said. "Our findings showed it
was particularly important to promote patient choice and active participation in
the plan."
Williams said the method has also proved successful for patients managing
diabetes, weight loss, and dental care.
Along with Ryan, who is a professor of psychology, psychiatry, and education,
Deci, the Gowen Professor in the Social Sciences, and Williams, Rochester
research assistant professor Heather Patrick also presented at the conference.
She has applied Self-Determination Theory to a common conundrum of romantic
relationships: If you do something positive for your mate, does it matter
why" The answer is yes according to Patrick's research. She found that both
small sacrifices, like doing the dishes for your partner, and big ones, like
moving across the country for a new job he or she really wants, mean more if you
do them because you genuinely want to.
Both Patrick's and Williams' research illustrates the crux of Self-Determination
Theory: A self-motivated person derives more satisfaction in completing a given
task, and is more likely to do it well. The research presented at the conference
explores motivation in human development, education, work, relationships,
sports, health, medicine, virtual environments, psychotherapy, and
cross-cultural applications.
Deci and Ryan hosted the first SDT conference at the University in 1999.
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Contact: Kate Perry
University of Rochester
Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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