Comparison of the Effect of Group and Individual Training on Smoking Cessation Motivation in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Background & objectives: Quitting smoking significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses associated with smoking. Training seems to be effective in motivating cessation of smoking. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of individual and group training on the smoking cessation motivation in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients admitted to Avesina Hospital in Qazvin. Methods: This study was a semi-experimental study conducted on smoker patients with diagnosis of CAD who were admitted to Avesina Hospital in Qazvin. 255 patients were enrolled in the study through available sampling. Patients were divided into three groups: individual training, group training and control. A standard two-part questionnaire, which included demographic data and a questionnaire of motivation to quit smoking, was used to collect data. The information was collected before training, and four and three months after the completion of the training. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.24 through descriptive statistic (mean and standard deviation), and chi-square test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The mean of motivation score for smoking cessation before intervention in 3 groups of control, individual and group training were 9.4±2.7, 8.5±2.3, 8.7±2.4, respectively. At the first follow-up (4 weeks after intervention), these amounts in 3 groups of control, individual training and group training were 8.76±2.9, 13.5±2.5, and 5.2±14 (p= 0/001) and in the second follow-up (3 months after intervention), were 8.18±3.3, 13.3±2.8 and 14±2.7, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that group training program resulted in increased motivation for smoking cessation. So, designing a group training program can have a significant effect on increasing motivation and creating lasting behavior for smoking cessation in CAD patients.