Rationalizations and identity conflict following smoking relapse: a thematic analysis

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of interview schedule.

1.	How old were you when you started smoking?
2.	Tell me about the first time that you smoked a cigarette.
3.	What experiences of giving up smoking did you have before quitting with the clinic?
4.	Thinking about when you quitted with the clinic, tell me about what it was like for you.
5.	What did you find most difficult about giving up smoking?
6.	Were there any aspects of giving up smoking that you found to be easier than you had expected?
7.	Did you feel any difference when you had stopped smoking?
8.	What was your experience of urges to smoke?
9.	Did you smoke at all between the time you quit and before returning back to smoking?
10.	Tell me about how you returned to smoking?
11.	How do you feel now compared to when you were not smoking?

Table 2. Participants’ characteristics and smoking habits.

Name	Age (yrs)	Education level	Marital status	Occupation	No. of smokers/household	Age started smoking (yrs)	No. of sticks smoked per day	FTND	CO ppm	Cessation aid used	Longest time quit
Zaidi	22	Diploma	Single	Clerk	3	15	10	5	8	Gum	3 mths
Nawi	26	Diploma	Single	IT technical	2	18	7	4	7	Gum	2 mths
Ridhuan	27	Diploma	Single	Security Officer	1	15	10	6	9	Gum	1 year
Habil	29	SPM	Married	Factory worker	3	16	3	4	3	Gum	6 mths
Baslan	42	SPM	Married	Web designer	1	20	10	6	11	Gum	1 ½ mths
Amran	20	SPM	Single	Technician	4	14	5	2	8	Gum	1 ½ mths
Faizal	31	Diploma	Married	Clerk	3	15	7	5	9	Gum and patch	1 ½ mths
Manrizal	33	SPM	Married	Security officer	1	12	3	5	5	Lozenges	6 mths
Quay	49	SPM	Married	Property agent	1	13	20	7	14	Lozenges	1 ½ mths
Abu Badar	58	SPM	Married	Security officer	1	15	60	8	11	Gum	2 ½ yrs
Ramu	46	SRP	Married	Metal collector	1	18	20 (Mix Commercial + Roll Cig)	7	11	Gum and lozenges	1 year
Rusdan	35	SPM	Married	Medical assistant	1	14	14	5	7	Lozenges	2 ½ yrs
Said	43	SRP	Married	Star Cruise store keeper	1	13	20 (Mix Commercial + Roll Cig)	8	11	Gum and patch	8 mths

Note: mths = months; yrs = years; Cig = cigarettes; SRP = Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (lower secondary school certificate); SPM = Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (upper secondary school certificate equivalent to O levels); FTND = Fagerstrom Test Nicotine Dependent; CO ppm = Carbon monoxide parts per million.

Table 3. List of main themes and sub-themes.

Main themes	Sub-themes
Rationalization of ways to reduce the harmful effects of smoking	Switching to a lower-tar cigarette
	Reducing the number of cigarettes smoked
	Comparing themselves with other smokers
	Denying the health risk associated with smoking
	Controlling cigarette smoke inhalation
Identity conflict	-