Process and outcome evaluation of the “No more smoking! It's time for physical activity” program

The aim of this study was to evaluate the program “No more smoking! It's time for physical activity”, with a mixed methods design, in order to collect information to improve the program for future applications. Forty patients across five anti-smoking clinics in Central Greece completed the program. Counselors' records and participants' questionnaires and interviews were used as data in order to evaluate the programs' process and outcome. Quantitative measures before and after the program revealed significant differences on smoking behavior, physical activity (PA) behavior, self-efficacy, and smoking habit measures. Qualitative data implied that the promotion of PA as a cessation aid was perceived as positive by the participants and both participants' and counselors' statements were encouraging for the effectiveness of PA promotion during the program as a cessation-aid technique. Evaluation of the “No more smoking! It's time for physical activity” program showed encouraging results. People who try to quit smoking can become more physically active through targeted intervention and they regard PA as a significant aid in their efforts to quit smoking.