UK women smokers' experiences of an age-progression smoking cessation intervention: Thematic analysis of accounts

Lucy Walker; Sarah Grogan; Keira Scholtens; Andrew Denovan; Brian McMillan; Christopher J Armitage; Mark Conner; Tracy Epton; Maria I Cordero

doi:10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100021

UK women smokers' experiences of an age-progression smoking cessation intervention: Thematic analysis of accounts

PEC Innov. 2022 Feb 7:1:100021. doi: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100021. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Lucy Walker¹, Sarah Grogan¹, Keira Scholtens², Andrew Denovan³, Brian McMillan⁴, Christopher J Armitage⁵, Mark Conner⁶, Tracy Epton⁷, Maria I Cordero¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
² Centre for Health Psychology, The Science Centre, Staffordshire University, Stoke on-Trent, UK.
³ Adelphi Values Ltd, Bollington, UK.
⁴ Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
⁵ Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, Manchester, UK.
⁶ School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
⁷ Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: Appearance-related interventions to promote healthy behaviour have been found effective to communicate health risks. The current study aimed to explore women smokers' experiences of age-progression software showing the effects of smoking on the face.

Methods: A qualitative design was implemented, utilizing both individual interviews and focus groups within a critical realist framework. Fifteen, 19-52 year-old women smokers were administered an age-progression intervention. All participants responded to the intervention, engaged in semi-structured interviews, and were invited back to attend one of three focus groups. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Four main themes were identified: Health versus Appearance, Shock Reaction, Perceived Susceptibility, and Intention to Quit. Participants found the intervention useful, voicing need for a comprehensive approach that includes both appearance and health. Despite increases in appearance-based apps which could diminish impact, women's accounts of shock induced by the aged smoking-morphed images were similar to previous work conducted more than ten years previously.

Conclusions: The study provides novel insights in how women smokers currently perceive, and react to, an age-progression intervention for smoking cessation.

Innovation: Findings emphasise the implementation of this intervention type accompanied by health information in a range of patient settings.

Keywords: Age-progression; Aging; Intervention; Smoking; Women.