DETERMINANTS OF INTENTION TO QUIT: CONFIRMATION AND EXTENSION OF WESTERN THEORIES IN MALE CHINESE SMOKERS.

Constructs from the Health Beliefs Model and Social Cognitive theory were used to predict intentions to quit in three disparate sub-samples (medical workers, teachers and factory workers) of male Chinese smokers (n=631). The intention to quit smoking was directly predicted by the importance the smoker places in quitting (change incentive) and their self-efficacy (accounting for 74% of the variance). Self-efficacy, in turn, was predicted by perceived barriers and by change incentive. Change incentive was predicted by self-efficacy, outcome expectancy and importance of benefits of quitting (outcome incentive). Health belief model variables susceptibility and severity were predictors of both outcome expectancy and outcome incentive. The results were largely replicated with each of the three sub-samples. We conclude that these models of health behaviour apply to Chinese smokers, with constructs from the Social Cognitive theory being primary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]