7 in 10 Smokers Want to Quit

About two in five salaried people smoke but nearly 70 percent of smokers plan to try to quit.

According to a survey of 1,448 employed workers by job portal career.co.kr Dec. 9-12, 618 are smokers but 67 percent of them said that their New Year resolutions include quitting.

When asked why they want to stop smoking, 72 percent cited their own health and about 14 percent wanting to stop for their family.

About 83 percent said that determination was the key factor to success in their attempt to kick the habit.

Regarding why quitting was difficult, 51 percent cited job-related stress, while 24 percent consider it an old habit difficult to drop. Some 20 percent cited “temptation” such as being with smokers.

Sixty-three percent light up while having drinks, while 22 percent said they were most likely to smoke after lunch or during other breaks. However, 73 percent of smokers said that they “consider” nonsmokers before lighting up.

Those who plan to stop smoking said that they will try to exercise more or pick up a new hobby, while 31 percent plan to quit cold turkey.

Half of them said they may feel doubly tempted to quit if employers provide incentives or take it into account in job performance evaluations.

In the survey of the 831 nonsmokers, about 60 percent objected to secondhand smoke.

About 30 percent find it most unpleasant when they enter a bathroom full of smoke; 23 percent said it was annoying when smokers started smoking without first asking them whether it was okay, and 22 percent considered smokers in conference rooms a nuisance.

However, nearly half of them don’t stop their fellow workers in order not to create awkward moments or cause hard feelings.

As for the best ways to promote nonsmoking, about one quarter called for more nonsmoking areas, with about the same number supporting the provision of incentives.

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/12/123_36625.html

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