OBJECTIVETo estimate the mediating effect of smoking abstinence self-efficacy (SASE) on the association between awareness of smoking hazard and successful smoking cessation.

METHODSA community-based case-control study was conducted in 642 smokers who successfully stopped smoking, and 700 smokers who failed in smoking cessation were used as controls. The awareness of smoking hazard was evaluated by total score of 12 items. The SASE was assessed by using Smoking Abstinence Self-Efficacy (ASES-S). The total effect was classified as direct effect and indirect effect through logistic regression analysis based on the KHB method.

RESULTSAfter adjusting the potential confounders, including age, age of smoking initiation, occupation, educational level and marital status, the mediating effect of SASE accounted for 6.03% among the total effect of awareness of smoking hazard in those who successfully stopped smoking while the direct effect accounted for 93.97% among the total effect. In the three specific situation of SASE, the mediating effect of SASE accounted for 6.80% (positive/social situations), 3.08% (negative/affective situations) and 2.32% (habit/addictive situations) among the total effect, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSASE has part mediating effect to influence on the association between the awareness of smoking hazard and successful smoking cessation. Improving smokers' awareness of smoking hazard may not only promote successful smoking cessation directly, but also contribute to quit smoking through improving the score of SASE.