Predictors of smoking cessation and state-of-the-art smoking interventions

Smoking has strong behavioral and addictive qualities. To develop successful smoking cessation interventions, it is important to understand predictors of smoking cessation and their relationship to the psychological process of cessation. The purpose of this review is to first overview the most popular model of the processes of smoking cessation, the stage of readiness model. Next, the known behavioral and biobehavioral determinants of smoking cessation and smoking relapse are presented in relationship to stage of readiness. Determinants are grouped in four categories: demographic and smoking history; biological components; intrapersonal components; and situational/interpersonal components. Finally, a description of a state-of-the-art smoking cessation program is described, including cognitive/behavioral components and pharmacologic interventions. The information provided in this review will be useful in developing smoking cessation interventions tailored to the relevant characteristics of the target population.