Spiritual Beliefs Help in Quitting Smoking

Smokers are receptive to spiritual practice and beliefs when attempting to quit smoking, a first-of-its-kind U.S. pilot study found.

Researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University Smoking Cessation Center in Portland say many smokers are receptive to and may benefit from their own spiritual resources when attempting to quit.

The study, published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, suggests that although not all clinicians want to talk about spirituality with their patients, those who do feel comfortable doing so will likely find most patients who smoke are receptive.

Of the 104 participants, 92 had some history of using spiritual resources, and of those, 78 percent believed that using those resources when making a quit attempt could be helpful.

Seventy-seven percent believed having treatment staff encourage the use of spiritual resources to help them quit could be beneficial, according to principal investigator David Gonzales, co-director of the OHSU Smoking Cessation Center.