| dc.description.abstract | Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have
become the leading cause of morbidity and
mortality, and tobacco use is a recognized causal
factor in the genesis of NCDs. The current smoking
prevalence is 39% among males and 2.6% among
females. Sri Lanka was the fifth country in the
region to sign the WHO Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the first country
in the region to ratify it. Hence quitting smoking
is very important health intervention and 5 A’s
(US-public health clinical practice guideline)
is a recommended psychological intervention
method for persons willing to quit smoking. A
non-random purposive first sample of forty seven
sailors who were in the habit of smoking,
diagnosed with non-chronic disease (NCD) in
northwestern naval area in year 2013 was selected
for study. A number of thirty smokers with 87%
NCD patients were included in the second study
sample in 2016 at northern naval area. 19.8%
were in 20-29 age group, 66.6% in 30-39, 66.6%
and 13.2% in 40-49 year age groups. Only 17%
had advanced educational qualifications and 83%
were junior sailors. Both samples were directed
to brief intervention and 5 A’s method (ask,
awareness, assess, arrange, award) and follow-up
for a 3-month period by naval nurses, counseling
officers and public health inspectors. 72.34%
of first study sample and 100% of second study
sample quit/reduced smoking after 3 months,
after commencing brief intervention and 5A
method. Brief intervention and 5A’s method can
be used as an effective low-cost method to quit
smoking. Age, educational status, discipline and
seniority may have an effect on the outcome. | en_US |
