A study conducted at the Oregon Health and Science University has found many smokers benefit from the application of their own spiritual practices and resources when trying to give up smoking.

Researchers then questioned why these practices hadn't been included in standard programs to assist smokers.

"We theorized the absence of spiritual resources in smoking cessation programs may be due to perceived resistance from smokers or, until recently, the social acceptance of smoking, which may have prevented patients and providers from considering the health effects of tobacco dependence as life-threatening," said David Gonzales, Ph.D., principal investigator of the study, and co-director, OHSU Smoking Cessation Center, OHSU School of Medicine.

"We know that smoking cessation medications coupled with behavioral interventions increase quit rates, but quitting is still difficult and some smokers need more support in order to quit successfully. We may be missing opportunities to assist these smokers."

The team studied a group 104 current smokers and were asked anonymous question on smoking behavior as well as spiritual beliefs.

Of the 104 participants, 92 had some spiritual beliefs and 78 percent said they believed that using these beliefs would be beneficial in giving up smoking.

The results of the research was recently published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.