Beliefs Towards Smoking and COVID-19, and The Pandemic Impact on Smoking
Behavior and Quit Intention: Findings from a Community-Based Descriptive
Cross-Sectional Study in Jordan
Abstract
Background: The relationship between smoking and Coronavirus
Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is still topical with mixed epidemiological
evidence. However, the pandemic may affect people’s beliefs towards
smoking as well as smoking behavior and quit intentions. Considering
high smoking rates in Jordan, our current study aimed to assess (i) the
beliefs that surround smoking and COVID-19, (ii) the pandemic impact on
smoking behavior and quit intention. Methods: A cross-sectional study
was conducted in Jordan utilizing an online questionnaire. The
questionnaire comprised 13 items on sociodemographic, health, and
smoking profiles, 14 items to assess beliefs surrounding COVID-19 and
the use of combustible cigarettes (CC), waterpipe (WP), and electronic
cigarettes (EC), and 12 items to assess the pandemic impact on smoking
behavior and quit intention. Results: 1163 never-smokers, 1044 current
smokers, and 217 ex-smokers have participated in our study. The mean age
of participants was 35.2 years (SD:11.06). Most participants have shown
anti-smoking beliefs with around 72.9% believed that WP smoking is
related to the risk of contracting COVID-19. Also, 71.7% believed that
smoking CC may worsen the COVID-19 clinical course, while 74.1% of
respondents believed that smoking has no protective effect against
COVID-19. During the pandemic, about 28.1% and 19.3% of current
smokers reported increased or reduced smoking, respectively, and many
smokers reported their willingness to quit smoking due to the pandemic.
Conclusion: Most participants reported anti-smoking beliefs during the
pandemic. Nevertheless, the double-edged effect of the pandemic on
smoking habits should be carefully considered, and reliable anti-smoking
measures should be strengthened and sustained.