Determinants of physical activity promotion by smoking cessation advisors as an aid for quitting: Support for the Transtheoretical Model

Citation

Everson ES, Taylor AH & Ussher M (2010) Determinants of physical activity promotion by smoking cessation advisors as an aid for quitting: Support for the Transtheoretical Model. Patient Education and Counseling, 78 (1), pp. 53-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2009.05.004

Abstract
Objectives: Physical activity (PA) can reduce cigarette cravings and aid quitting but little is known about its promotion by smoking cessation advisors. This study aimed to: (1) determine the extent to which smoking cessation advisors promote PA; and (2) examine the relationship between PA promotion as a cessation aid and advisor characteristics and cognitions, within the Transtheoretical Model (TM) framework. Methods: Self-report surveys assessing PA promotion, TM variables, advisors' own PA levels and demographics were completed by 170 advisors in England and Scotland. Results: Advisors reported spending 29 min promoting PA over a 6/7-week clinic. Those in later stages of readiness for promoting PA as a cessation aid and those spending more time promoting PA held more positive beliefs regarding pros and cons, self-efficacy, outcome efficacy and importance of PA within smoking cessation. Time spent promoting PA and stage of readiness were strongly associated. There was a trend for the more physically active advisors to promote PA more often. Conclusions: About half the advisors promoted PA and TM variables predicted this variability. Practice implications: PA promotion among smoking cessation advisors may be facilitated by enhancing self-efficacy, outcome efficacy and pro- and con-beliefs related to PA promotion.

Keywords
Multiple health behaviour change; Stage of change; Self-efficacy; Outcome efficacy;Pros and cons; Lifestyle; Counselling; Exercise Beliefs

Journal
Patient Education and Counseling: Volume 78, Issue 1

People

Professor Michael Ussher

Professor of Behavioural Medicine, Institute for Social Marketing