Making the Decision to Quit

University Health Service (UHS)

Health Promotion Office

STEP ONE: Making the Decision to Quit

What brings a person towards the decision to quit smoking? Researchers have been looking into it for years. One theory that has been used is the "Stages of Change Model." The model is based on research that shows that behavior changes related to smoking occur over a continuum. In other words, not all people are at the same point in the "getting ready to quit" scenario. Here's an overview of the stages:

Pre-contemplation: This is the smoker who is not even thinking about quitting right now.

Contemplation: This is the smoker who is actively thinking about quitting but is not quite ready to make a serious attempt yet. This person may say, "Yes, I'm ready to quit, but the stress of finals is too much, or I don't want to gain weight, or I'm not sure if I can do it."

Preparation: Smokers in the preparation stage seriously intend to quit in the next month and often have tried to quit in the past 12 months. They usually have developed a plan to quit.

Action: In this stage, the smoker has taken action to quit and is in the first 6 months of being smoke-free.

Maintenance: This is the period of 6 months to five years after quitting when the new non-smoker is actively engaged in taking steps to avoid smoking again.

Where do you fit in this model? If you are thinking about quitting, setting a date and deciding on a plan will move you into the preparation stage, the best place to start.

If you have not already done so, you might want to complete the self-assessment tools in Section 3, Self-Assessment. Bringing your self-assessments with you when you see your PCP can be helpful in your conversations about quitting smoking.