Assessing Motivational Interviewing through Co-Active Life Coaching Tools as a Smoking Cessation Intervention: A Demonstration Study

The objective of this study was to explore smoking triggers and obstacles to cessation, and intervention experiences among nine 19-28 year old smokers who participated in a 3-month coaching-administered Motivational Interviewing (MI) intervention. In addition to qualitative methods, quantitative trends regarding self-efficacy, self-esteem, cigarette dependency, and average daily cigarettes use were assessed via a repeated measures design. Participants engaged in 9 sessions with a certified coach over 3-months. In-depth interviews and previously validated quantitative assessments were conducted at baseline, 1, 3, and 6-months. Qualitatively, stress and social situations were primary smoking triggers. Cessation obstacles were a sense of personal identify as a smoker and feeling controlled by cigarettes. Through the intervention participants reportedly gained: personal insights related and unrelated to smoking; helpful ways to cope with smoking challenges; and heightened awareness about other choices. Quantitatively, all constructs ’ trends supported qualitative findings. The application of motivational interviewing using coaching tools is valuable for reducing smoking, and for providing smokers ’ with insights about their behaviours, their triggers, and what they need to be and stay smoke-free. Additional research with a larger sample over a longer time is warranted