About half of smokers said they have tried kicking the habit once without help from professional treatment but failed, an online survey showed.

The survey, jointly conducted by the media center of the Ministry of Health and the Life Times newspaper ahead of World No Tobacco Day, which fell on Monday, polled 15,559 Internet users in the country.

One-fifth of those polled said taking medication was necessary to help quit smoking but only 5 percent of them used such drugs. Forty-nine percent tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking on their own, the survey showed.

"I'm trying to quit smoking for the second time," said 43-year-old Sun Jianjun, who had just been prescribed with three months' dosage of pills used to treat nicotine addicts.

"The last time I tried, I had headaches every day after lunch and I managed to live without cigarettes for only 40 days," Sun said.

"Then I lit a cigarette. The first puff made my whole body tingle and I smoked more."

On Sunday, Sun went to the hospital because his sore throat was worsening. He wanted to quit smoking completely so he turned to medication and doctors.

Zuo Fang, a doctor of a tobacco cessation clinic, said that the correct way of giving up smoking should include psychological counseling, medication and a change in behavior.

Those used to smoking after dinner can take a walk outdoors and avoid thinking about lighting up.

"Without combining the three aspects, the success rate is only 2 to 3 percent. But scientific methods can increase the rate up 30 to 40 percent, " Zuo said.

In the survey, 34.5 percent of those polled cited the "pain" as a major reason why they could not give up smoking. Forty-one percent said the social environment hindered their efforts to quit smoking.

"I'm not sure whether I should stop smoking," said Ou Shuneng, 40.

"On the one hand, it is indeed harmful to my health. On the other hand, smoking has become an easy way for me to communicate with my colleagues and clients," Ou said.

He Yao, director of the Institute of Geriatrics of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, said nearly 67 percent of Chinese men smoke and 70 percent of these do not want to stop the habit.

"The biggest problem with a smoking ban in public places is that people show little willingness to adhere to it," he said.

In the survey, 60 percent of the respondents said quitting smoking is a responsible move for both themselves and others. Ten percent of those polled said it is becoming fashionable to give up cigarettes.

Still, the high cost of drugs that help smokers give up their habit could be another barrier to anti-smoking efforts.

A three-month dosage of the most expensive medication for treating nicotine addiction costs 2,000 yuan ($294), He said.

But a number of smokers said the expense is not an issue for them.

"Every year, I spend almost 6,000 yuan on cigarettes. That is much more expensive than the medicine," Ou said. "And I believe my health matters more than money."