Table 5.

Participants perceptions of smoking cessation services

'... we're reasonable intelligent people, we know all the pitfalls, I would like some sort of encouragement or support while packing it in, but it's all the other bit that you have to put up with so that puts you off a little bit, the information bit about it, it puts you off because we've heard it all before'

'To be honest with you I find the more they preach to you about what it does to you, the more I seem to smoke. I know I shouldn't but you just feel that you need one ...'

'You can have far too much of it, and you think "blow it", you let it go in one ear and out the other.'

'I don't know if they'd have me back (if I failed), I don't know if you get second chances with them or third chances!'

'I need some help but you don't know where to go with smoking, because it's legal, you don't know where to go for help and where to ask'

'I don't think I've heard of any (cessation services) to be honest.'

'I can think of lots of people who would like to give up smoking and they've not had a single bit of help and they can't afford to smoke or anything ...'

'They don't know where to go or what to do to get help, they hear about it but the daily business (of living) ... carries on'

'... it's really awkward because you've got Mums with young children who can't get out in the evening, then you've got workers who can't get out during the day because you work.'