Classification and analysis of guild merchants using smokeless tobacco inChabahar, Iran, based on the transtheoretical model

Background: The use of all types of smokeless tobacco poses a serious risk to the health ofcommunity members. The present study was conducted to classify the guild merchants usingsmokeless tobacco in Chabahar, Iran, based on the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM) and thenanalyze the relationships between the examined variables based on the constructs of this model.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on ۳۲۰ merchants working indifferent guilds in Chabahar in ۲۰۱۸, who were selected through simple random sampling. Thedata collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire with a demographic and backgroundinformation section, behavioral items and items on the constructs of the transtheoretical model,and was used after its validity and reliability were confirmed. Data were analyzed in SPSSsoftware using statistical tests such as mean and SD, the Chi-square test, the ANOVA and Tukey’stest.Results: Most of the participants in the study were in the age group of ۲۰-۳۰ years (۶۹%).Hairdressers and textile stores (۱۹%) were the largest and hotel and restaurant businesses (۲%) thesmallest trade guilds in this study. Most people in the study consumed Gutkha (۲۴%). A total of۸۵% of the subjects were in the precontemplation stage, ۱۲.۵% in the contemplation stage and۲.۵% in the preparation stage, and the stages of change had a significant difference with constructsincluding counter-conditioning, self-liberation, decisional balance and temptation to use tobacco(P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Since most merchants were in the precontemplation stage, and given their age and theproven harms of smokeless tobacco, interventions to encourage these people to quit tobaccoconsumption using the TTM constructs are necessary.

Keywords:

Transtheoretical Model , Smokeless Tobacco , Guilds.