The importance of self-efficacy and action planning for smoking cessation

Abstract

Background: Socio-cognitive theory forms an important basis for effective behaviour change interventions. The study aimed to prospectively assess whether the effect of a web-based computer-tailored intervention on smoking cessation is mediated by socio-cognitive constructs as proposed by the I-Change model. Methods: Smokers (N=2099) were randomly assigned to the control, text- or video-based condition. Structural Equation Modelling was used to assess intervention effects on attitude, social support, social modelling, self-efficacy (SE), action planning (AP), and on three outcomes (i.e. seven days abstinence, prolonged abstinence, and continued abstinence) after 6 months. Findings: Results showed significant mediation effects of the intervention (both video and text) via AP and SE on all three outcomes. No differences concerning AP and SE were found between the text and video condition. The mediated pathways accounted for the full intervention effect. Discussion: Few smoking cessation programs assess operating mechanisms of their programs. Our results confirm the importance of SE and AP for smokers that want to quit smoking, and the efficacy of our computer tailored intervention in realizing this.