A Cross-Sectional Survey of Risks Associated With Smoking Frequency and Cessation Practices Among Active Inpatient Smokers Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

TL;DR

This study examines smoking habits, health risk awareness, and cessation attempts among hospitalized smokers in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into smoking behaviors and cessation practices among hospitalized smokers in a Saudi Arabian context.

Findings

Cigarette smoking was the most common form of tobacco use among participants.

Awareness of adverse pregnancy outcomes due to smoking was significantly lower compared to awareness of lung cancer.

Only 13.6% of participants achieved sustained smoking cessation for more than six months.

Abstract

Introduction and aim: Tobacco smoking remains a major public health concern worldwide and is associated with multiple preventable diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and chronic respiratory conditions. Despite sustained global and regional tobacco control efforts, smoking prevalence remains high in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess smoking frequency, awareness of smoking-related health risks, and cessation practices among hospitalized active smokers admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted between October 2024 and April 2025 among 250 actively smoking inpatients admitted to the Department of Medicine at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah. Data were collected using a validated, Arabic-language translated electronic questionnaire that captured socio-demographic characteristics, smoking behaviors, awareness of health risks, and cessation practices. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.), employing descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with statistical significance set at p≤0.05.

Results: The mean duration of smoking was 12.84±6.42 years, and the mean age at smoking initiation was 18.62±3.75 years. Cigarette smoking was the most prevalent form of tobacco use, reported by 191 participants (76.4%), followed by shisha use in 34 (13.6%) and dual use in 25 (10.0%). Awareness of smoking-related health risks was highest for lung cancer (212; 84.8%), whereas awareness of adverse pregnancy outcomes was comparatively low (94; 37.6%). More than half of the participants (139; 55.6%) reported at least one previous quit attempt; however, sustained abstinence for more than six months was achieved by only 34 (13.6%). Stratified analysis demonstrated significant associations between smoking behaviors and gender (p=0.021), age (p=0.034), marital status (p=0.013), and education level (p=0.033).

Conclusion: Hospital admission represents a critical window of opportunity to implement structured smoking cessation interventions, address gaps in risk awareness, and reduce socio-demographic disparities in smoking behaviors among active inpatient smokers.