Social Disparities in Unaided Quit Attempts Among Daily Current and Former Smokers: Results From the 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

Disparities in pathways to reduction mammaplasty: A single institution review of 425 women with macromastia

BACKGROUND

Reduction mammaplasty improves the quality of life by providing functional and aesthetic benefits to women with macromastia. This study contributes to the existing literature on socioeconomic and clinical barriers to referral for plastic surgery procedures by focusing specifically on reduction mammaplasty.

METHODS

Patients with macromastia were identified via a chart review in a single institution from 2021-2022. The treatment pathway for each patient was characterized by reception of referral, completion of plastic surgery consultation, and eventual reception of surgery. After controlling for clinical covariates, multivariate logistic regression was applied to quantify the independent impact of race, insurance, and language status on the completion of surgery (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

The final patient cohort included 425 women with macromastia. Among the 151 patients who were first seen by a primary care physician, 64 (42%) completed an initial plastic surgery consultation. Among all patients, 160 (38%) eventually underwent reduction mammaplasty. Multivariate regression predictions indicated a lower likelihood of completing breast reduction surgery in patients with current smoking history (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.59) and higher body mass index (BMI) (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.97) (p < 0.05). Minority race and ethnicity, private insurance status, and primary language status were not significant predictors of this outcome (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the socioeconomic variables were not independent predictors of breast reduction surgery completion. However, the association of minority race and ethnicity and nonprivate insurance status with the most common reasons for breast reduction deferral suggest an indirect influence of socioeconomic status on the treatment pathway.

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Tobacco Urge Management Scale (TUMS)

BACKGROUND

During quit attempts, smokers must overcome smoking urges triggered by environmental cues and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the 12-item Tobacco Urge Management Scale (TUMS), a new measure of smoking urge management behaviors.

METHODS

We analyzed secondary data (n = 327) from a behavioral smoking cessation intervention trial, Kids Safe and Smokefree (KiSS).

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis of the TUMS indicated that a one-factor model and a correlated two-factor model had similar model fit indices, and a Chi-square difference test supported the one-factor model. Further study of the parsimonious one-factor scale provided evidence of reliability and construct validity. Known group validity was evidenced by significantly higher TUMS scores in the KiSS intervention arm receiving urge management skills training than in the control arm (p < 0.001). Concurrent validity was evidenced by TUMS's inverse association with cigarettes smoked per day and positive associations with nonsmoking days, 7-day abstinence, and self-efficacy to control smoking behaviors (p's < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The TUMS is a reliable, valid measure of smoking urge management behaviors. The measure can support theory-driven research on smoking-specific coping mechanisms, inform clinical practice by identifying coping strategies that might be under-utilized in treatment-seeking smokers, and function as a measure of treatment adherence in cessation trials that target urge management behaviors.

Antecedents of Self-Efficacy to Achieve Smoking-Behavior-Change Goals among Low-Income Parents Enrolled in an Evidence-Based Tobacco Intervention

Previous studies have shown that greater self-efficacy (SE) to modify smoking behaviors during treatment improves long-term post-treatment outcomes. Little is known about factors that might enhance SE for smoking abstinence and for reducing children's tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). The present study investigated hypothesized predictors of end-of-treatment SE to abstain from smoking and to protect children from TSE by conducting secondary multiple regression analyses of data (N = 327) from the Kids Safe and Smokefree (KiSS) behavioral intervention trial. KiSS aimed to reduce parental smoking and child TSE in urban, low-income, and minority communities. The results showed that partner support and initiating a planned quit attempt during treatment were positively related to SE to abstain from smoking and to reduce children's TSE (all p's < 0.001) at the end of treatment (EOT). Further, lower baseline nicotine dependence and the use of nicotine replacement were related to higher SE to abstain from smoking at EOT (p < 0.01), whereas more restrictive residential smoking rules and lower children's TSE at baseline was associated with higher SE to reduce children's TSE at EOT (all p's < 0.05). These findings inform theory and future intervention design, identifying individual and social-environmental factors that might enhance smoking-behavior-change SE.

Changes in Attitudes toward Tobacco Smoking and Factors Associated with Quitting in 9-Year Observation of PURE Poland Cohort Study

(1) Background: This study aims to examine changes in tobacco smoking prevalence in the PURE Poland cohort study over the 9-year follow-up period. Moreover, it attempts to identify socio-demographic factors that affect changes in attitudes towards tobacco smoking. (2) Methods: The PURE Poland cohort study—baseline was performed in 2007–2010 and covered 2036 participants, including urban (59.4%) and rural (40.6%) residents of Lower Silesia, Poland. The following study reports the results of 1690 participants who took part in both the baseline (2007–2010) study and 9-year follow-up (2016–2019). (3) Results: There was a 3.5% decrease in current smokers during the analyzed period (from 20.2% at the baseline study to 16.7% in the 9-year follow-up). Living in rural area increased the likelihood of being a current smoker by more than 1.5-fold (OR = 1.65 CI = 1.26–2.14) and decreased the likelihood of being a former smoker (OR = 0.70 CI = 0.57–0.86). In the 9-year follow-up period, more women were current smokers than men (17.2% vs. 16.0%) and women had lower chances of being former smokers than men (OR = 0.77 CI = 0.62–0.95). People with a primary education had 1.5-fold higher likelihood of being a current smoker (OR = 1.45 CI = 1.03–2.05). Nearly 11% significant increase in the percentage of current smokers was observed in the oldest age group (1.9% in the baseline study vs. 12.6% in the follow-up period). (4) Conclusions: The results obtained during 9 years of observation indicate the necessity of intensifying anti-tobacco programs especially targeting women, elderly population, people with lower level of education, rural residents, and the unemployed.

Long-Term Effectiveness of a Clinician-Assisted Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Smoking Cessation: Secondary Outcomes from a Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction

This study evaluated the secondary effectiveness outcomes for Quit Genius, a digital clinician-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention for smoking cessation.

Methods

Adult smokers (N = 556) were randomly assigned to Quit Genius (n = 277), a digital, clinician-assisted CBT intervention or very brief advice (VBA) to stop smoking, an evidence-based, 30-s intervention designed to facilitate quit attempts, coupled with referral to a cessation service (n = 279). Participants were offered combination nicotine replacement therapy (patches and gum) tailored to individual nicotine dependence. Analyses (n = 530), by intention-to-treat, compared Quit Genius and VBA at 4, 26, and 52 weeks post-quit date (QD). The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 4 weeks post-QD. Consecutive 7-day point-prevalence abstinence, defined as abstinent at two or more consecutive timepoints, was examined at weeks 26 and 52 to indicate long-term effectiveness. Abstinence was verified using a random sample of participants with carbon monoxide breath testing of <5 parts per million (n = 280).

Results

Self-reported consecutive 7-day PPA at weeks 26 and 52 for Quit Genius was 27.2% and 22.6%, respectively, compared with VBA which was 16.6% and 13.2% (RR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.22-2.37; p = .003, 26 weeks; RR = 1.71, 95% CI, 1.17–2.50; P = .005, 52 weeks). Biochemically verified abstinence was significantly different at 26- (p = .03) but not 52 weeks (p = .16). Quit Genius participants were more likely to remain abstinent than those who received VBA (RR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.17–2.50; p = .005).

Conclusions

This study provides secondary evidence for the long-term effectiveness of Quit Genius in comparison with VBA. Future trials of digital interventions without clinician support and comparisons with active treatment are needed.

Implications

The long-term effectiveness of clinician-assisted digital smoking cessation interventions has not been well studied. This study established the long-term effectiveness of an extended CBT-based intervention; results may inform implementation of scalable approaches to smoking cessation in the health system.

Racial Disparities in Cigarette Smoking Behaviors and Differences Stratified by Metropolitan Area of Residence

Background: Black cigarette smokers experience a disproportionate burden of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to other racial and ethnic groups, despite starting to smoke later in life, smoking less frequently, and smoking fewer cigarettes per day compared with White smokers. Research has shown that these disparities in NSCLC are wider in rural areas. Objective: To examine differences in smoking behaviors between Black and White individuals living in non-metropolitan areas and metropolitan areas. Methods: Using harmonized data from the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) years 2010–2011, 2014–2015, and 2018–2019, we compared smoking behaviors between Black and White current and former smokers by metropolitan status (i.e., whether an individual lives in a densely populated area or not) and by both metropolitan status and sex. Results: Smoking prevalence was higher among White participants living in non-metropolitan versus Black participants. Further, in non-metropolitan areas, Black individuals reported smoking fewer cigarettes per day, fewer years of smoking, and a later age of initiation compared to White individuals. Additionally, Black individuals, especially men, were more likely than White individuals to be current non-daily smokers. Conclusions: Our findings show that Black individuals living in non-metropolitan areas do not, in aggregate, have more cigarette smoking exposure relative to White individuals. Additional research is needed to further understand smoking-related exposures and other factors that may contribute to lung cancer disparities, especially in non-metropolitan areas.

Tobacco control policies and smoking cessation treatment utilization: A moderated mediation analysis

BACKGROUND

Tobacco policies, including clean indoor air laws and cigarette taxes, increase smoking cessation in part by stimulating the use of cessation treatments. We explored whether the associations between tobacco policies and treatment use varies across sociodemographic groups.

METHODS

We used data from 62,165 U.S. adult participants in the 2003 and 2010/11 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) who reported smoking cigarettes during the past-year. We built on prior structural equation models used to quantify the degree to which smoking cessation treatment use (prescription medications, nicotine replacement therapy, counseling/support groups, quitlines, and internet resources) mediated the association between clean indoor air laws, cigarette excise taxes, and recent smoking cessation. In the current study, we added selected moderators to each model to investigate whether associations between tobacco polices and smoking cessation treatment use varied by sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and health insurance status.

RESULTS

Associations between clean indoor air laws and the use of prescription medication and nicotine replacement therapies varied significantly between racial/ethnic, age, and education groups in 2003. However, none of these moderation effects remained significant in 2010/11. Higher cigarette excise taxes in 2010/2011 were associated with higher odds of using counseling among older adults and higher odds of using prescription medications among younger adults. No other moderator reached statistical significance. Smoking cessation treatments did not mediate the effect of taxes on smoking cessation in 2003 and were not included in these analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Sociodemographic differences in associations between clean indoor air laws and smoking cessation treatment use have decreased from 2003 to 2010/11. In most cases, policies appear to stimulate smoking cessation treatment use similarly across varied sociodemographic groups.

Identifying Content-Based Engagement Patterns in a Smoking Cessation Website and Associations With User Characteristics and Cessation Outcomes: A Sequence and Cluster Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Using WebQuit as a case study, a smoking cessation website grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, we aimed to identify sequence clusters of content usage and examine their associations with baseline characteristics, change to a key mechanism of action, and smoking cessation.

METHODS

Participants were adult smokers allocated to the WebQuit arm in a randomized controlled trial (n = 1,313). WebQuit contains theory-informed content including goal setting, self-monitoring and feedback, and values- and acceptance-based exercises. Sequence analysis was used to temporally order 30-s website usage segments for each participant. Similarities between sequences were assessed with the optimal matching distance algorithm and used as input in an agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis. Associations between sequence clusters and baseline characteristics, acceptance of cravings at 3 months and self-reported 30-day point prevalence abstinence at 12 months were examined with linear and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Three qualitatively different sequence clusters were identified. "Disengagers" (576/1,313) almost exclusively used the goal-setting feature. "Tryers" (375/1,313) used goal setting and two of the values- and acceptance-based components ("Be Aware," "Be Willing"). "Committers" (362/1,313) primarily used two of the values- and acceptance-based components ("Be Willing," "Be Inspired"), goal setting, and self-monitoring and feedback. Compared with Disengagers, Committers demonstrated greater increases in acceptance of cravings (p = .01) and 64% greater odds of quit success (ORadj = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.18, 2.29, p = .003).

DISCUSSION

WebQuit users were categorized into Disengagers, Tryers, and Committers based on their qualitatively different content usage patterns. Committers saw increases in a key mechanism of action and greater odds of quit success.

IMPLICATIONS

This case study demonstrates how employing sequence and cluster analysis of usage data can help researchers and practitioners gain a better understanding of how users engage with a given eHealth intervention over time and use findings to test theory and/or to improve future iterations to the intervention. Future WebQuit users may benefit from being directed to the values- and acceptance-based and the self-monitoring and feedback components via reminders over the course of the program.

Medicaid-Insured Client Characteristics and Quit Outcomes at the Arizona Smokers' Helpline

Medicaid-insured individuals who smoke experience disparities in quitting and are a priority population for assistance. This retrospective cohort study of Arizona Smokers' Helpline clients (Jan 2014-Mar 2019) examined the association between insurance status, treatment, and smoking cessation. When compared to clients with non-Medicaid insurance or no insurance, clients with Medicaid (26%) were more likely to be female, referred directly to the ASHLine by a healthcare or community partner, smoke in the home, and report having a mental health condition. They also were less likely to utilize cessation medication and reported receiving less social support to quit. Controlling for these and other theoretically relevant variables, insurance status was stratified (Medicaid, non-Medicaid, and uninsured), and quit outcomes were compared by level of treatment (4 treatment groups: more and less than 3 coaching sessions and cessation medication use yes/no). Compared to clients who received 3+ coaching sessions, those who had less than 3 coaching sessions had significantly lower adjusted odds of quitting. Results were similar regardless of cessation medication use or insurance status. There is no indication that treatment effects differ by insurance status. While insurance status appears to proxy for other important factors like low social and economic status and higher comorbidity prevalence, in a quitline setting, quitting is associated with additional, high-quality coaching. Where coaching sessions may offset social and economic barriers to quitting, quitlines may consider focusing on assisting Medicaid-insured clients to connect and engage with treatment.

Evaluation of Combined Financial Incentives and Deposit Contract Intervention for Smoking Cessation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

We evaluate whether a combination of financial incentives and deposit contracts improves cessation rates among low- to moderate-income smokers.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 311 smokers covered by Medicaid at 12 health clinics in Connecticut to usual care or one of the three treatment arms. Each treatment arm received financial incentives for two months and either (i) nothing further ("incentives only"), (ii) the option to start a deposit contract with incentive earnings after the incentives ended ("commitment"), or (iii) the option to precommit any earned incentives into a deposit contract starting after the incentives ended ("precommitment"). Smoking cessation was confirmed biochemically at two, six, and twelve months.

RESULTS

At two, six, and twelve months after baseline, our estimated treatment effects on cessation are positive but imprecise, with confidence intervals containing effect sizes estimated by prior studies of financial incentives alone and deposit contracts alone. At two months, the odds ratio for quitting was 1.4 in the incentive-only condition (95% CI: 0.5 to 3.5), 2.0 for incentives followed by commitment (95% CI: 0.6 to 6.1), and 1.9 for incentives and precommitment (95% CI: 0.7 to 5.3).

CONCLUSIONS

A combined incentive and deposit contract program for Medicaid enrollees, with incentives offering up to $300 for smoking cessation and use of support services, produced a positive but imprecisely estimated effect on biochemically verified cessation relative to usual care and with no detectable difference in cessation rates between the different treatment arms.

Real-World Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation Strategies for Young and Older Adults: Findings From a Nationally Representative Cohort

INTRODUCTION

Young adults have high combustible cigarette and e-cigarette use rates, and low utilization of evidence-based smoking cessation strategies compared to older adults. It is unknown whether young adults who try to quit smoking without assistance, with evidence-based strategies, or with e-cigarettes, are equally successful compared to older adults.

AIMS AND METHODS

This analysis used a population-based sample from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study of young adult (aged 18-24, n = 745) and older adult (aged 25-64, n = 2057) established cigarette smokers at Wave 1 (2013-2014) who reported having made a quit attempt at Wave 2 (2014-2015). Cessation strategies were: behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, product substitution, 2+ strategies, and unassisted. Logistic regression estimated associations between cessation strategy and short-term cessation status at Wave 2 (quit, no quit); multinomial logistic regression predicted long-term cessation patterns at Waves 2 and 3 (sustained quit, temporary quit, delayed quit, no quit).

RESULTS

No cessation strategy (ref: unassisted) significantly predicted short-term cessation. No cessation strategy (ref: unassisted) significantly predicted long-term cessation patterns for young adults. Substitution with e-cigarettes predicted short-term cessation for older daily smokers of ≥5 cigarettes/day (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.70; 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 2.67) but did not predict long-term cessation patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite differences in cessation strategy use between young and older adult smokers, strategy effectiveness largely did not differ by age group. No strategy examined, including e-cigarettes, was significantly associated with successful cessation for young adults. More work is needed to identify effective interventions that help young adult smokers quit.

IMPLICATIONS

(1) Neither behavioral support, pharmacotherapy, nor product substitution was associated with short-term cessation for young or older adults compared to quitting unassisted. (2) Neither behavioral support, pharmacotherapy, nor product substitution was associated with longer-term cessation for young or older adults compared to quitting unassisted. (3) Substitution with e-cigarettes predicted short-term cessation for older daily smokers of ≥5 cigarettes/day but was not associated with longer-term cessation.

Provision of free nicotine replacement therapy to parental smokers in the pediatric emergency setting

INTRODUCTION

Although the administration of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is effective in helping smokers quit, the feasibility, acceptability and safety of this practice have not been examined in the emergency setting of the pediatric emergency department (PED) or urgent care (UC). We examined the characteristics of parental smokers who were interested and eligible for free NRT during their child's emergency visit and the uptake, usage, and associated side effects of NRT use.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 377 parental smokers who were randomized to receive cessation counseling and free NRT as part of an emergency visit-based randomized controlled trial. Parents interested in NRT were screened for medical contraindications; eligible parents were given a 6-week supply of NRT patches or lozenges during their child's emergency visit and offered another supply 6 weeks later. We conducted Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and chi-squared tests to address our main study objective.

RESULTS

The majority of parents were female (87.5%), non-Hispanic Black (52.5%), and mean (SD) age was 33.1 (8.2) years. A total of 252 (66.8%) parents were interested in receiving NRT. Compared to uninterested parents, interested parents were more likely to: be older [33.6 (8.2) vs 31.9 (8.2), years]; be non-Hispanic Black (54.0% vs 49.6%); have older children [5.5 (5.0) vs 4.2 (4.6)]; have a higher readiness to quit [7.0 (2.4) vs 5.2 (2.6)]; and have a child being evaluated in UC compared to the PED (72.4% vs 56.5%). A total of 53 (21%) interested parents had >1 NRT contraindications. At 6 weeks, 94 (79.0%) parents reported some ≥NRT usage and 50 (53.2%) requested an additional 6-week supply. There were no serious adverse events and 5 (5.3%) reported minor side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental smokers in the emergency setting are interested in receiving free NRT, the majority use it, and use is not associated with adverse side effects. The emergency visit may be an optimal time to offer NRT to parental smokers.

Cold Turkey and Hot Vapes? A National Study of Young Adult Cigarette Cessation Strategies

INTRODUCTION

Young adults have high smoking rates and low utilization of evidence-based smoking cessation strategies. We investigated smoking cessation intentions, strategy use, and socioeconomic predictors of strategy use among young adult smokers (age 18-24) and compared patterns with those of older adults (age 25-64).

METHODS

We used a population-based sample from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study of young adult (n = 1,881) and older adult (n = 6,366) established smokers of conventional cigarettes at Wave 1 (2013-2014), who were surveyed at Wave 2 (2014-2015). Simple regression analysis compared intentions to quit between age groups. Among Wave 1 smokers who reported a Wave 2 quit attempt (young adults [YA] n = 748; older adults [OA] n = 2,068), bivariate and multinomial logistic regression estimated differences in use of behavioral support, pharmacotherapy, product substitution, and unassisted quit attempts. Interaction terms estimated age-group differences in relationships between predictors and cessation strategy use.

RESULTS

Young adults planned to quit on a longer time frame, expressed lower interest in quitting, and were more confident they would be successful, compared with older adults. Young adults were significantly less likely to use pharmacotherapy (adjusted odds ratio: 0.15; confidence interval: 0.09, 0.24; reference: quitting unassisted). Both groups reported using product substitution (YA: 31.6%; OA: 28.5%), primarily with e-cigarettes, more than any evidence-based cessation strategy. Socioeconomic predictors of cessation strategy use did not differ between age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

More research on why young adult smokers underutilize evidence-based cessation support is needed, as are innovative efforts to increase intentions to quit and utilization of cessation assistance.

IMPLICATIONS

Young adulthood is a key transition time for tobacco use, and early cessation substantially reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality from smoking. In the context of high e-cigarette and polytobacco use, this study finds young adults have significantly less intention to quit than older adults and are less likely to use evidence-based cessation strategies to help quit. Innovative methods are needed to increase young adult intentions to quit and use of evidence-based cessation assistance.

A randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a peer-based social mobile game intervention to reduce smoking in youth

Smoking is a major cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Almost no evidence-based intervention programs are available to help youth quit smoking. We argue that ineffective targeting of peer influence and engagement difficulties are significant barriers to successful youth smoking cessation. To address these barriers, we developed the mobile game intervention HitnRun. A two-armed randomized controlled trial (RCT; n = 144) was conducted and young smokers (Mage = 19.39; SDage = 2.52) were randomly assigned to either play HitnRun or read a psychoeducational brochure. Prior to, directly following the intervention period, and after three-month follow-up, weekly smoking behavior, abstinence rates, intervention dose, and peer- and engagement-related factors were assessed. Results indicated similar reductions in weekly smoking levels and similar abstinence rates for both groups. Yet, we found a dose effect with HitnRun only: The longer participants played HitnRun, the lower their weekly smoking levels were. In the brochure group, a higher dose was related to higher weekly smoking levels at all measurement moments. Exploratory analyses showed the most powerful effects of HitnRun for participants who connected with and were engaged by the intervention. Future work should build on the promising potential of HitnRun by increasing personalization efforts and strengthening peer influence components.

The Relationship Between Neighborhood Disorder and Barriers to Cessation in a Sample of Impoverished Inner-City Smokers in Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Introduction

Economic disparities in rates of smoking have been well documented in many countries. These disparities exist on an individual and geographic or neighborhood level. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between neighborhood physical and social disorder and barriers to smoking cessation among an impoverished urban sample.

Methods

A sample of current smokers were recruited through street outreach, posted advertisements, and word of mouth from impoverished neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, USA for a study of psychosocial factors and smoking behaviors. Neighborhood disorder was assessed with a 10-item scale from the Block Environmental Inventory and barriers to cessation with a 9-item scale.

Results

In the multiple logistic regression model, perceived stress (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.32 to 1.95), neighborhood disorder (aOR= 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.63), and level of nicotine dependence (aOR = 1.97), 95% CI = 1.62 to 2.40) were all strongly associated with barriers to cessation.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that neighborhood disorder may lead to barriers to cessation among low-income populations. The findings also indicate that tobacco control interventions should examine and address social and physical aspects of impoverished neighborhoods.

Implications

In many countries, tobacco control programs and policies have been less effective among low-income populations as compared to more affluent populations. Little is known about how neighborhood factors influence smoking cessation. This study examined the relationship between neighborhood disorder and barriers to cessation among a low-income population. We recruited a convenience sample of hard-to-reach cigarette smokers from low-income neighborhoods. Even after controlling for level of nicotine dependence and stress, neighborhood disorder was found to be associated with barriers to cessation. The findings suggest the important role of neighborhood disorder as a barrier to smoking cessation.

A Pilot Clinical Trial of Smoking Cessation Services Implemented in the Workplace for Service Industry Employees

PURPOSE

Evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of implementing evidence-based tobacco treatment at the workplace for service industry employees.

DESIGN

Randomized trial using 6 paired worksites (3 test and 3 delayed intervention control sites).

SETTING

US Northeast city.

PARTICIPANTS

Employees were recruited from university food service settings.

INTERVENTION

Comprehensive smoking treatment was provided at the workplace including individual counseling, free pharmacotherapy (dual nicotine replacement therapy or varenicline), and 5 weeks of contingency management that reinforced abstinence or reductions in smoking to encourage progress toward quitting.

MEASURES

Primary measures included a smoking status survey administered at the end of treatment at the test sites and before treatment began at the delayed intervention control sites.

ANALYSIS

Analyses compared rates of quit attempts and successful abstinence for at least 24 hours between the test and delayed intervention control sites.

RESULTS

Twenty-five employees were enrolled in treatment. The majority were single (12/25), black (16/25), and reported their educational attainment as high school or less (18/25). Employees in the test (vs delayed intervention control) sites reported higher rates of quit attempts (66.7% vs 12.5%, P = .02) and success quitting for at least 24 hours (53.3% vs 12.5%, P = .08). Participants rated the treatment as very helpful overall.

CONCLUSION

Findings support the feasibility and efficacy of providing workplace-based smoking cessation services and may inform strategies to increase access to treatment.

Social and Structural Determinants of Smoking Status and Quit Attempts Among Adults Living in 12 US States, 2015

PURPOSE

This study examined the relationships among intermediary determinants, structural determinants, and adult smoking status and quit attempts.

DESIGN

Secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data.

SETTING

Data come from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Social Context module. A national, representative sample from 12 US states (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Utah).

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 64 053 noninstitutionalized US adults aged ≥18 years.

MEASURES

Smoking status and quit attempts were outcome variables. Individual-level structural determinants (age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, and employment status) and intermediary determinants (housing insecurity, food insecurity, health insurance, binge drinking, and general health mental health) from BRFSS.

ANALYSIS

Weighted multivariate, multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

Current smoking was greater among men, respondents aged between 35 to 64 and 55 to 64, adults who reported food insecurity, housing insecurity, frequent mental distress, binge drinking, and who were unemployed. Current smokers had higher odds of making quit attempts in the past 12 months if they were non-Hispanic Black, graduated college, and reported food and housing insecurity.

CONCLUSION

Multifaceted smoking cessation interventions that address food and housing needs also incorporate screening for potential comorbidities such as mental distress and/or hazardous alcohol use and may be needed to enhance smoking cessation rates among racially diverse adults.

Perceptions of Tobacco Control Media Campaigns Among Smokers With Lower Socioeconomic Status

People with low socioeconomic status (SES) in the United States have disparately high rates of smoking and experience disproportionately high burdens of smoking-related disease. Tobacco control media campaigns are a critical strategy for reducing tobacco use prevalence, but evidence is mixed about the optimal use of mass media to reach and promote tobacco use cessation among people with low SES. Improved understanding of the factors influencing how low-SES tobacco users evaluate tobacco control media campaigns may inform development of more effective messages and strategies. Focus groups with primarily low-SES smokers in Connecticut were conducted, finding that participants had seen many tobacco control television ads that used graphic imagery and testimonials, but participants voiced two main themes that limited ad effectiveness: (1) skepticism about the content of ads, the role of the tobacco industry and the government in sponsoring the ads, and the safety and efficacy of cessation supports; and (2) barriers to quitting such as stress, social contexts, and addiction that participants perceived as being underappreciated in the context of the ads. Tobacco control media campaigns targeting low-SES tobacco users may need additional messages, tools, or refinements to more optimally motivate this group to make quit attempts.

Kids Safe and Smokefree (KiSS) Multilevel Intervention to Reduce Child Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Long-Term Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Pediatricians following clinical practice guidelines for tobacco intervention (“Ask, Advise, and Refer” [AAR]) can motivate parents to reduce child tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). However, brief clinic interventions are unable to provide the more intensive, evidence-based behavioral treatments that facilitate the knowledge, skills, and confidence that parents need to both reduce child TSE and quit smoking. We hypothesized that a multilevel treatment model integrating pediatric clinic-level AAR with individual-level, telephone counseling would promote greater long-term (12-month) child TSE reduction and parent smoking cessation than clinic-level AAR alone.

METHODS

Pediatricians were trained to implement AAR with parents during clinic visits and reminded via prompts embedded in electronic health records. Following AAR, parents were randomized to intervention (AAR + counseling) or nutrition education attention control (AAR + control). Child TSE and parent quit status were bioverified.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 327) were 83% female, 83% African American, and 79% below the poverty level. Child TSE (urine cotinine) declined significantly in both conditions from baseline to 12 months (p = 0.001), with no between-group differences. The intervention had a statistically significant effect on 12-month bioverified quit status (p = 0.029): those in the intervention group were 2.47 times more likely to quit smoking than those in the control. Child age was negatively associated with 12-month log-cotinine (p = 0.01), whereas nicotine dependence was positively associated with 12-month log-cotinine levels (p = 0.001) and negatively associated with bioverified quit status (p = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatrician advice alone may be sufficient to increase parent protections of children from TSE. Integrating clinic-level intervention with more intensive individual-level smoking intervention is necessary to promote parent cessation.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Smoking Among U.S. Adults With Depression, 2005-2014

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to estimate changes in the cigarette smoking prevalence among U.S. adults with and without depression from 2005 to 2014 by income and education level and overall.

METHODS

This study examined data from adult respondents (aged ≥18 years) in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual cross-sectional study of U.S. individuals. Data from the years 2005 to 2014 were analyzed for a total analytic sample of n=378,733. The prevalence of past-month cigarette smoking was examined annually from 2005 to 2014 among adults with and without past-year major depression, overall and by income/education, using linear trend analyses. Data analysis occurred in 2017.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smoking declined significantly from 2005 to 2014 among those with depression (37.62% to 34.01%; p<0.001) and without depression (23.99% to 19.87%; p<0.001). Yet, smoking remained nearly twice as common among those with depression during this period. Among adults with depression in the lowest income and education groups, the prevalence of smoking was more than double the prevalence of smoking among adults with depression in the highest income and education groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in smoking prevalence are pronounced when depression and SES are considered simultaneously. Targeted public health and clinical efforts to reduce smoking among adult smokers of lower SES with depression are needed.

Unaided Smoking Cessation in Healthy Employees

BACKGROUND

According to guidelines, behavioral and pharmacological assistance should be offered to all smokers willing to quit. However, a large proportion of ex-cigarette smokers are self-quitters.

OBJECTIVES

To identify characteristics of long-term, unaided self-quitters, as compared to recurrent smokers among health care employees.

METHODS

University hospital employees (n = 5,218) were addressed through a 17-question questionnaire inquiring about past and current smoking behavior. Questions included daily cigarette consumption, pack-years, previous quit attempts, smoking-free period, and utilization of pharmacological therapies and counseling.

RESULTS

2,574 (49.3%) questionnaires were returned. 791 subjects declared to have successfully quit smoking. A complete data set was available for 763 cases. Patients remained smoking free for a mean period of 11.8 ± 9.7 years. The most common smoking cessation method in these subjects was unaided (77.2%), followed by alternative approaches (15.4%), nicotine replacement therapy (4.5%), counseling (1.7%), and bupropion (1.2%). Smoking cessation was achieved with 1 attempt in 53% of the cases, 2 in 19%, 3 in 13%, and more than 3 attempts in 15%, respectively. On average, 2.4 ± 3.02 attempts led to successful smoking cessation. After 2 or more unsuccessful attempts, the odds ratio for a further unsuccessful smoking cessation was 2.58 (95% CI 1.94-3.45).

CONCLUSION

The majority of the ex-smokers quitted smoking without any behavioral or pharmacological support. The chance to successfully quit smoking without any help in a first or second attempt is considerably high. The risk for smoking recurrence after 2 ineffective quit attempts is markedly increased (OR 2.58).

Gender differences in the real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation medications: Findings from the 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

BACKGROUND

Meta-analyses of clinical trial data have identified clinically relevant gender differences in the efficacy of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. It is unclear whether these findings are generalizable to smokers quitting in real-world contexts.

METHODS

Using Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) 2010-2011 cross-sectional data, we generated propensity score matched samples of smokers who quit either unassisted by medication, using only varenicline, or using only transdermal nicotine patch (TNP). We used generalized estimating equations to estimate gender differences in the comparative effectiveness of these cessation options for achieving 30-days of abstinence, adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

When stratified by gender, TNP was significantly more effective than unassisted quit attempts for men (OR=1.37; 95%CI=1.02,1.83; p=0.03), but not for women (OR=0.96; 95%CI=0.71,1.31; p=0.82). Varenicline was significantly more effective than unassisted quit attempts for women (OR=1.63; 95%CI=1.16, 2.31; p=0.005), but not men (OR=1.35; 95%CI=0.94,1.96; p=0.11). Varenicline was also more effective than TNP for women (OR=1.51; 95%CI=0.12,2.05; p=0.007) but not men (OR=0.92; 95%CI=0.65,1.31; p=0.64). A significant gender by medication interaction was found only for the comparison of varenicline to TNP (OR=1.64; 95%CI=1.04,2.61; p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings for varenicline vs. TNP were consistent with clinical trial data, showing greater differences in effectiveness for women compared to men. Results lend support to the generalizability of clinical trial findings, highlighting the importance of considering gender when offering treatment for smoking cessation.