Impacts of COVID-۱۹ on cigarette use, smoking behaviors, and tobaccopurchasing behaviors

Background: The COVID-۱۹ pandemic has had a significant global impact. As a respiratoryillness, COVID-۱۹ may pose unique risks to cigarette smokers. This study used concept mapping,a mixed-method participatory approach, to identify impacts of COVID-۱۹ on cigarette smokers.Methods: Cigarette smokers across the United States (U.S.) were recruited to complete thisonline, multi-step study. Of the ۲۵۰ participants who were invited to participate in this study, ۱۱۴participants (mean age = ۴۰.۹; SD = ۱۲.۶) completed at least one of the three study tasks (i.e.,brainstorming, sorting, and rating). Participants completed a brief demographic survey andbrainstormed statements that completed a focus prompt: “A specific way thatCoronavirus/COVID-۱۹ has impacted/affected my cigarette use, smoking behaviors, tobaccopurchasing behaviors, and/or other tobacco-related behaviors is.” After duplicate statements wereremoved, participants sorted the final list of ۹۳ statements by similarity of content and rated howtrue statements were from them (۱-Definitely NOT true to ۶-Definitely true).Results: Nine thematic clusters were identified: Smoking More, Smoking to Cope/Reduce Stress,Change in Smoking Behaviors Due to COVID-۱۹, Concerns about Smoking and COVID-۱۹ Risk,Social Impacts, Maintaining and Rationing Cigarette Supply, Impacts on Obtaining Cigarettes,Use of Other Tobacco Products/Drugs, and Minimal/No Impacts/Concerns of COVID-۱۹. Thehighest rated cluster (i.e., most true) was the Smoking More cluster followed by the Concernsabout Smoking and COVID-۱۹ Risk cluster. The highest rated statement in the study was thestatement “Smoking keeps me calm”.Conclusions: Cigarette smokers may endure additional impacts of COVID-۱۹, such as increasedCOVID-۱۹ health burdens, stressors related to risk of exposure, social stigma and isolation,financial burdens, and increased toxicant exposure from increased smoking frequency.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، Coronavirus ، Cigarette Smokers ، Smoking Behaviors