Assessing the usability of a Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire in a sample of active tobacco smokers: A qualitative study.

Background and objectives: Tobacco products are conceivably the most accessible addictive substances. Its use contributes to numerous negative health outcomes both in the developed and developing world. The objective of the study was to assess the usability of a Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire; a concise questionnaire used to assess the readiness of active tobacco smokers to stop smoking, and also guiding in constructive conversations between healthcare workers and clients regarding stopping smoking.Methods: In this study, 25 active tobacco smokers and four healthcare workers of different cadres were interviewed. Participants were given the Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire and asked to fill and comment on its usability, ease of comprehension and plausibility in the healthcare system settings.Results: All the 25 active tobacco smokers demonstrated their readiness to stop smoking. It was reported that the Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire triggered the intention to stop smoking and effectively guided the interviews between the healthcare workers and clients who had expressed the intention of stopping smoking.Conclusion: The Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire is a valuable tool in clinical practice as it can be used to prompt tobacco cessation dialogues between healthcare workers and clients attempting to stop smoking.