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\nDisease-2019 (COVID-19) is still topical with mixed epidemiological\nevidence. However, the pandemic may affect people’s beliefs towards\nsmoking as well as smoking behavior and quit intentions. Considering\nhigh smoking rates in Jordan, our current study aimed to assess (i) the\nbeliefs that surround smoking and COVID-19, (ii) the pandemic impact on\nsmoking behavior and quit intention. Methods: A cross-sectional study\nwas conducted in Jordan utilizing an online questionnaire. The\nquestionnaire comprised 13 items on sociodemographic, health, and\nsmoking profiles, 14 items to assess beliefs surrounding COVID-19 and\nthe use of combustible cigarettes (CC), waterpipe (WP), and electronic\ncigarettes (EC), and 12 items to assess the pandemic impact on smoking\nbehavior and quit intention. Results: 1163 never-smokers, 1044 current\nsmokers, and 217 ex-smokers have participated in our study. The mean age\nof participants was 35.2 years (SD:11.06). Most participants have shown\nanti-smoking beliefs with around 72.9% believed that WP smoking is\nrelated to the risk of contracting COVID-19. Also, 71.7% believed that\nsmoking CC may worsen the COVID-19 clinical course, while 74.1% of\nrespondents believed that smoking has no protective effect against\nCOVID-19. During the pandemic, about 28.1% and 19.3% of current\nsmokers reported increased or reduced smoking, respectively, and many\nsmokers reported their willingness to quit smoking due to the pandemic.\nConclusion: Most participants reported anti-smoking beliefs during the\npandemic. Nevertheless, the double-edged effect of the pandemic on\nsmoking habits should be carefully considered, and reliable anti-smoking\nmeasures should be strengthened and sustained.