Challenges associated with quitting smoking and nicotine dependence among hospitalized patients with selected chronic illness

Background: Cessation of smoking is one of the most significant issues in the field of public health, especially among those that have a chronic disease because the addiction to nicotine and the continuity of habits are the factors that do not allow giving up smoking. Knowledge of such issues in hospitalized patients is necessary in enhancing cessation. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the challenges of quitting smoking and the degree of nicotine dependence among the patients with hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illness. Methods The study involved a cross-sectional study in the Al-Qurayyat General Hospital in Saudi Arabia during the period between July and August 2025. One hundred and twenty patients were recruited. A structured questionnaire and Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were used to collect data. The SPSS version 23 was used to conduct the analysis where descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were applied. Results It was found that the majority of subjects were men (71.7%), and their age (49.2) was between 30 and 39 years. Over fifty percent of them gave an early start to smoking, largely due to peer pressure and family. The most widespread product was traditional cigarettes (43.3%), which was followed by hookah (30.8) and e-cigarettes (10%). The level of nicotine dependence was mostly moderate (65.8%), and the greater dependency was noticed in men, as well as diabetes or respiratory illness patients. The traditional cigarette use was more likely to be associated with internal challenges like withdrawal symptoms and addiction whereas the hookah use was related to external social challenges. Significant relationships were not established between e-cigarette use, nicotine dependence and perceived challenges. Conclusion To sum up, the results show that demographic, medical, and behavioral factors interact in forming smoking behavior and smoking cessation issues in hospitalized patients. It is suggested to strengthen smoking cessation programs that can target on certain product use patterns, health conditions, and social factors to increase the success of cessation. Clinical trial number Not applicable.