Are we speaking the same language? Differences in the language used by smokers and healthcare professionals to describe barriers to quitting
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Author(s)
Chris Manning, Ian Hindmarch and Terry Maguire
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| Presenter(s) |
Dr Chris Manning UPstream Healthcare, London |
Abstract Objectives
To capture the language routinely used by smokers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) around barriers to quitting to identify commonalities, gaps and misunderstandings.
Methods
In-depth telephone interviews and focus groups were conducted with 26 dissonant smokers (daily smokers wanting to reduce and/or quit), 20 GPs, 20 pharmacists and 21 stop smoking advisers. Language used to describe the factors that made it difficult to quit within 5 categories (pharmacological, social, psychological, behavioural, sensorial) was captured and compared across the respondent groups.
Results
Whereas smokers identified the significance of psychological and social barriers, their preferred language was used less by GPs and pharmacists and most pharmacists could not provide any language to capture the sensorial aspects of smoking. The language used by stop smoking advisers more closely resembled that used by smokers, indicating an understanding of the multiple factors involved. Smokers used a wealth of descriptive and emotional language to describe barriers to quitting for all 5 categories.
Conclusions
HCPs and smokers use different language to describe barriers to quitting. HCPs had no language to describe some of the barriers experienced by smokers. This might negatively impact on effective communication between HCPs and smokers, and on the subsequent success of quit attempts.
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Presenter biography Dr Chris Manning trained as a biochemist before qualifying in medicine in 1978 and going on to practice as a GP in SW London until 1999. His primary care interest focused on being a specialist generalist and focusing on the person beyond the patient and the predicaments beyond the diagnosis. Dr Manning retired from NHS practice in 1999 to work in the mental health voluntary sector and changing perceptions, attitudes and behaviours towards mental health , illness and addictions.
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Source of funding: Nicoventures Limited. Nicoventures is a consumer healthcare company established to focus exclusively on bringing licensed nicotine products to smokers looking for an alternative to cigarettes. Nicoventures Limited is a stand-alone company within the British American Tobacco Group, managed separately from the tobacco businesses.
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Declaration of interest: The authors received honoraria from Nicoventures for their involvement in this study.
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