Snus cessation patterns - a long-term follow-up of snus users in Sweden
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(2020) 17:62
RESEARCH
Open Access
Snus cessation patterns - a long-term follow-up of snus users in Sweden Tove Sohlberg1*
and Peter Wennberg2,3
Abstract Background: Several studies have investigated the role of snus as an aid to become smoke-free, but few have focused on who use snus, how they perceive snus use, why and how they quit, and their perception of being nonsnus users. The purpose of this paper is to describe snus cessation patterns. Methods: Respondents are part of a 7-year follow-up of former smokers in Sweden. Initially, 1400 respondents were contacted regarding participation and 705 answered a web-based survey (response rate 50%). Out of them, 118 had used snus. The analyses include percentage distributions, as well as factor analyses of inventories, and configural frequency analysis in order to examine configurations of snus-related patterns. Results: Over 80% found snus of great importance to succeed with smoking cessation and half of them continued to use snus on a long term. Those who experienced both physical and psychological effects of switching to snus were the ones who continued and vice versa; those who did not experience such effects quit using snus. None made use of professional help but had their own strategies (60%), and most respondents who quit obtained psychological benefits (68%). Conclusions: The distinction between the concepts smoke-free, tobacco-free, and nicotine-free contributes to nuances in the debate on snus as harm reduction. Continued snus use does not mean that snus is not an effective aid to become smoke-free. Snus cessation is mostly mentioned in relation to advices on how to succeed, but the cessation process has rarely been described; therefore, this study expands the knowledge on this quite neglected topic and contributes to a more nuanced picture of snus cessation. Keywords: Snus, Snuff, Cessation, Patterns, Smoking cessation aid, Sweden
Background Swedish snus (moisturized tobacco meant to be placed under the upper lip) has been part of Sweden´s tobacco culture and commonly used for over a century. Since the mid 1980s, though, smoking prevalence has decreased and for some the use of snus plays a significant role in smoking cessation, while some go on to quit snus also. Studies on prevalence, risks, and harm reduction as an argument for lifting the legal ban on snus in the European Union (EU) are relatively common. This study aims for a * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
broader grasp of the process of becoming not only smokefree but also snus-free, i.e., from initiation as an aid to giving up smoking to final cessation of snus as well. Snus - a Swedish speciality
Snus (sometimes referred to as “snuff”) is a moist tobacco either in loose form to pinch and place under the lip or in ready bagged portions (resembling tiny tea bags). This habit has been common in Sweden since the beginning of the twentie
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