| The psychiatric patients had the smoking rate higher than the normal population which affected to their health and effect of treatment. Objective= To study the behavior and attempt to stop smoking in psychiatric patients at Prasrimahabhodi hospital. Methods= The quasi-experimental study using 5A technique was conducted and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires in 50 smoking psychiatric patients at the OPD of Prasrimahabhodi hospital from July to September 2013. They were continuously followed at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after counseling. Results= The average amount of smoking was 12.4 ±6.1 rolls per day while the average smoking year was 20.3 ±12.8. The level of nicotine dependence in 62.0% of patients was low. Majority of 98.0% preferred to smoke in the morning. Furthermore, 32.0% quitted smoking at least once and 86.1% used cold turkey method. The relapse were caused by self-need (33.3%), following by seeing other smoke (27.8%). After following up for 1, 4 and 8 weeks; the readiness to stop smoking was recorded in 7 (20.6%), 9 (28.1%) and 12 (40.0%) cases. In addition, there was 1 patient willing to quit smoking in action stage. The amount of cigarette smoking was also significantly decreased after 8 week follow up (p-value<0.05). In terms of knowledge and attitude toward smoking cessation, the results revealed that these were significantly improved after the study (knowledge, 8.4 ±2.2 vs. 9.4 ±2.1; p-value<0.05 and attitude, 30.0±3.6 vs.32.8±3.0; p-value<0.05). Conclusion= Counseling based on the 5A technique may be one of the tools to help smoking cessation in psychiatric patients. |