Factors influencing the maintenance of nicotine abstinence among the habitants of the region of Lódź and Kalisz in the years 1996-2003.

The aim of the study was to determine the factors allowing non-smoking for the next 2 years after a 5-year period of non-smoking. A questionnaire study was performed in October 2003 among 449 of men and women chosen from among 1700 contest' 'Quit & Win' Competition participants, which was ending in 1996 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign "Quit & Win" in Poland in the region of Lódź and Kalisz. Chosen people were respondents, who during studies conducted in the years 1998 and 2001 stated that they were not smoking at all since their participation in the contest. Filled-in questionnaires were sent back by 296 people (65.9%). The analysis showed that the surveyed with elementary education more rarely than people with other level of education could preserve in non-smoking habit for the next 2 years after a 5-year period of non-smoking. Further maintenance of nicotine abstinence was not dependent on: age, sex, the place of living, the marital status and the source of income.