Ecological momentary assessment of adolescent smoking cessation: a feasibility study.

Attempts to quit smoking by adolescents typically fail, even when aided by psychosocial and pharmacological treatments. Gaining a better understanding of the process of smoking cessation and relapse in this population could lead to improved treatments and increases in cessation rates. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been used to describe the relapse process among adults, but not among adolescents. This study examined the feasibility of using EMA to examine relapse among adolescent smokers. Participants (N = 13) used a hand-held computer for 3 weeks to report on their smoking behavior, affect state, and exposure to smoking cues during a quit attempt (7 days prequit, 14 days postquit). All of the participants recorded a quit attempt and at least one lapse during the monitoring interval. Compliance with the protocol was generally high but decreased slightly over time. As with adults, evidence indicated that lapses were associated with craving, negative affect, and smoking cues. These data support the feasibility and potential value of using EMA with adolescent smokers.     

Smoking reduction predicts cessation: longitudinal evidence from the Finnish adult twin cohort.

The aim of the study was to examine whether smoking reduction over a 6-year period (1975-1981) predicted smoking cessation 9 years later by 1990. The longitudinal data from three surveys over 15-year period among the Finnish adult twin cohort were used. The data were collected by postal surveys in 1975, 1981, and 1990, and the sample comprised 11,015 participants, of whom 2,443 were persistent current smokers in 1975 and 1981. Smoking cessation by 1990 was examined as the outcome measure. Nineteen percent reported having stopped smoking by 1990, corresponding to an approximate annual rate of smoking cessation of 2%. Those who had quit smoking by 1990 had larger decreases in smoking between 1975 and 1981. The odds ratio for quitting by 1990 increased with increasing levels of reduction in amount smoked between 1975 and 1981. This was found in both categorical and trend analyses, and when adjusting for age, sex and for amount of baseline smoking. The model among twin pairs discordant for cessation indicated that the association of smoking reduction with increased likelihood of cessation was independent of genetic or early shared family influences on smoking behavior. We conclude that smokers who are able to decrease the number of cigarettes smoked per day by at least 25% are more likely to quit later.     

Smoking cessation in homeless populations: a pilot clinical trial.

This study, which tested two motivational interviewing treatment approaches, assessed the feasibility of conducting a community-based smoking cessation intervention among homeless smokers. Participants (N = 46) were recruited from multiple facilities in the Kansas City area and were randomized to two counseling conditions in which they received five individual motivational interviewing sessions, six group meetings, and their choice of 8 weeks of 21-mg nicotine patch or 4-mg nicotine lozenge. The two counseling conditions consisted of motivational interviewing targeted either to smoking behaviors exclusively (smoking only) or to smoking and other addictions or life events that could affect ability to quit (smoking plus). Group meetings were designed to provide educational information and social support. Measures of feasibility assessed included the proportion of participants who returned for randomization among those eligible, adherence to prescribed nicotine replacement therapies, retention rates at the week 26 final study visit, and biochemically verified 7-day abstinence at week 26. Most participants (69.6%) chose nicotine patches, and 32% of those participants reported using at least four patches per week. Carbon monoxide verified 7-day abstinence rates in the smoking-only and smoking-plus groups were 13.04% and 17.39% (ns), respectively, at week 8 and 8.70% and 17.39% (ns), respectively, at week 26. Participants who used at least four patches per week were more likely to have quit at 8 weeks than were those who used fewer patches (33.3% vs. 10.5%, p = .30). Results support the feasibility of conducting a smoking cessation intervention among homeless smokers. Findings also show promising effects for nicotine replacement therapy and counseling in this population. Developing programs to improve smoking cessation outcomes in underserved populations is an essential step toward achieving national health objectives and for ultimately reducing tobacco-related health disparities.     

Smoking experimentation and initiation among adolescent girls: qualitative and quantitative findings

OBJECTIVE: To use qualitative and quantitative findings to describe patterns of smoking experimentation and initiation among adolescent girls. DESIGN: Ethnographic in-person interviews, focus groups, telephone interviews, and a survey questionnaire were used over a one- year period. The paper reports on cross-sectional data drawn from a three-year longitudinal study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: 205 girls participated in the survey and interviews during year 3 of the study. Girls were drawn from two urban high schools in Tucson, Arizona (USA), and were in grades 10 and 11 (mean ages 16 and 17, respectively) during year 3. RESULTS: Overall, 30% (n = 61) of informants reported that they currently smoked, 7% (n = 15) were ex-smokers, and 63% (n = 129) were "non-smokers". The most frequently cited reasons for smoking were stress reduction and relaxation. Several stress-inducing situations, including family environment, social relations with classmates, and schoolwork, are discussed. The notion of peer pressure is re-examined in the light of teenagers'' experience that there is little overt pressure to initiate smoking. Consonant with notions of adolescent autonomy, the theme of independence in smoking initiation and continuation permeated girls'' narratives about their smoking behaviour. Girls projected the image that they could control their cigarettes rather than have their cigarettes control them. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevention and cessation programmes need to address and counter the smoking/relaxation association, which was identified as an important reason for smoking among adolescent girls. Questions typically used in surveys to measure smoking behaviour do not adequately define the smoking experience as described by teenagers.


     

Association of post-treatment smoking change with future smoking and cessation efforts among adolescents with psychiatric comorbidity.

Little is known about how initial change following a smoking intervention relates to longer-term smoking outcomes among adolescent smokers with psychiatric comorbidity. The present study investigated this relationship among psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents (N = 183) who participated in a controlled trial comparing motivational interviewing to brief advice. Quit attempters (n = 37), reducers (n = 45), and maintainers (n = 101) were assembled based on, respectively, having made a quit attempt, having reduced smoking by at least 50%, and having reduced smoking by less than 50% in the first week after hospital discharge. Hierarchical linear models and generalized estimating equations were conducted to test group differences in average number of cigarettes per smoking day and odds of making a quit attempt during subsequent weeks of a 12-month continuous follow-up, and in cotinine-verified abstinence rates at 1, 6, and 12 months posthospitalization. Baseline smoking levels and presence of a substance use disorder or anxiety disorder were predictive of outcomes. After controlling for covariates, we found that quit attempters smoked less during follow-up than did the other change groups and that reducers smoked less than maintainers. Quit attempters evidenced a higher percentage of quit attempts during follow-up than did the other change groups. Reducers had a greater average percentage of quit attempts during follow-up than did maintainers. However, groups did not differ on cotinine-verified abstinence rates across the follow-up period. Findings have implications for initial post-treatment change as it relates to subsequent smoking and cessation outcomes among adolescent smokers at especially high risk for smoking persistence.     

The effects of household and workplace smoking restrictions on quitting behaviours

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of household and workplace smoking restrictions with quit attempts, six month cessation, and light smoking. DESIGN: Logistic regressions identified the association of household and workplace smoking restrictions with attempts to quit, six month cessation, and light smoking. SETTING: Large population surveys, United States. SUBJECTS: Respondents (n = 48,584) smoked during the year before interview in 1992-1993, lived with at least one other person, and were either current daily smokers or were former smokers when interviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures were an attempt to quit during the last 12 months, cessation for at least six months among those who made an attempt to quit, and light smoking (< 15 cigarettes a day). RESULTS: Smokers who lived (odds ratio (OR) = 3.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.57 to 4.18) or worked (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.24) under a total smoking ban were more likely to report a quit attempt in the previous year. Among those who made an attempt, those who lived (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.43 to 1.91) or worked (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.003 to 1.45) under a total smoking ban were more likely to be in cessation for at least six months. Current daily smokers who lived (OR = 2.73, 95% CI = 2.46 to 3.04) or worked (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.38 to 1.70) under a total smoking ban were more likely to be light smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Both workplace and household smoking restrictions were associated with higher rates of cessation attempts, lower rates of relapse in smokers who attempt to quit, and higher rates of light smoking among current daily smokers.     

Tobacco craving predicts lapse to smoking among adolescent smokers in cessation treatment.

Previous research indicates that tobacco craving predicts relapse to smoking among adult smokers attempting to quit. We hypothesized a similar relationship between craving and lapse (any smoking following a period of abstinence) among adolescent smokers during the treatment phase of a clinical trial. A visit was considered a lapse visit if the participant reported smoking or had a carbon monoxide level of 7 ppm or greater subsequent to an abstinent visit. A total of 34 participants (mean age = 14.9 years [SD = 1.3]; mean cigarettes/day = 18.0 [SD = 7.6]; mean Fagerstr?m Test for Nicotine Dependence score = 6.8 [SD = 1.34]; 65% female), were included in the present analysis of 167 treatment visits. Logistic regression analyses showed a positive relationship between degree of craving, measured by the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges, and lapse during smoking cessation treatment (p = .013). Additionally, linear regression analyses demonstrated a strong positive association between cigarettes smoked per day and craving scores (p<.001). Taken together with other data, these findings suggest that degree of craving might influence tobacco abstinence for adolescent smokers. Thus monitoring and addressing craving appears useful to increase the success of adolescent smoking cessation.     

Preventing tobacco use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youths.

A paucity of information regarding tobacco use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths impedes prevention programs. The aim of the present study was to conduct formative qualitative research regarding subpopulations at risk for tobacco use, protective factors, patterns of use, and approaches to prevention. This report focuses on participants' recommendations for the development of preventive intervention. Purposive sampling and maximum variation sampling were used to select 30 LGBT youths and 30 interactors for face-to-face interviews. NUD*IST6 text software was used for the indexing and thematic analysis of qualitative data, based on a grounded theory approach. All participants offered suggestions for tobacco prevention pertaining to the optimal process of prevention and cessation programs, specific strategies to promote tobacco prevention and cessation, and general strategies to foster nonsmoking. Several key themes regarding prevention emerged: LGBT youth should be involved in the design and implementation of interventions; prevention programs should support positive identity formation as well as nonsmoking; the general approach to prevention should be entertaining, supportive, and interactive; and the public might not distinguish primary prevention from cessation activities. All but one young smoker had attempted to quit at least once; but only one individual had succeeded. By way of implications, prevention programs should involve young people in enjoyable and engaging activities, address the psychosocial and cultural underpinnings of tobacco use, support healthy psychosocial development, and consider offering pharmacological smoking cessation aids.     

Teen smoking cessation

Interest in adolescent smoking cessation has increased dramatically over the past several years, as researchers and practitioners have acknowledged the high rates of adolescents who smoke regularly and the low probability that adolescents who are regular smokers will stop on their own. The evidence base behind smoking cessation interventions for adolescents is also now starting to grow, but unfortunately the studies to date have frequently been plagued by major methodological problems. This paper summarises research conducted on adolescent smoking cessation, notes some of the methodological limitations of prior work, highlights approaches that show promise, discusses some of the challenges involved in addressing adolescent smoking cessation, and makes recommendations for future work.     

Increasing access to smoking cessation treatment in a low-income, HIV-positive population: the feasibility of using cellular telephones.

This study examined the feasibility of using cellular telephones to improve access to smoking cessation counseling in a low-income, HIV-positive population. Two pilot studies were conducted: (a). A survey of interest and barriers in participating in a smoking cessation intervention (n=49) and (b). a cellular telephone smoking cessation intervention in which participants were provided with free cellular telephones and received six telephone counseling sessions over a 2-week period (n=20). A primary care clinic serving a multiethnic, medically indigent, HIV-positive population served as the setting. Demographics and smoking status were assessed by self-report and expired-air carbon monoxide testing. In study 1, participants reported multiple barriers to participating in a smoking cessation intervention, including transportation, transience, and telephone availability. However, they also reported a high level of interest in participating in a smoking cessation intervention, with the greatest interest in a cellular telephone intervention. In study 2, 19 of the 20 participants successfully completed 2 weeks of smoking cessation counseling with a 93% (106 of 114 calls) contact rate. A total of 19 participants made a quit attempt, and the 2-week end of treatment point-prevalence abstinence rate was 75%. The provision of cellular telephones allowed for the implementation of a proactive telephone smoking cessation intervention providing an underserved population with access to care. Cellular telephones also may provide unique benefits because of the intensity of counseling and support provided as well as the ability to provide counseling in real-world, real-time situations (in vivo counseling).     

Adolescent definitions of change in smoking behavior: an investigation.

Although adolescent smoking cessation has received increased research attention, little information exists as to how adolescents define change efforts for smoking behaviors. This issue is of particular importance because surveys routinely incorporate items assessing smoking cessation, yet how adolescents interpret such items is unclear. The present study investigated definitions of smoking behavior change efforts among adolescents. A total of 94 adolescent smokers-of average age 16.7 years (SD = 1.0), 56% female, and 71% White-were asked to define the terms quit, stop, and cut down smoking. Responses to the three questions were categorized using content analysis. Definitions of quit and stop were categorized as (a) stop permanently, (b) stop temporarily, (c) stop except in certain situations, and (d) reduce smoking (for quit only). Definitions of cut down were categorized as (a) reduce the number of cigarettes, (b) smoke less in a time frame, (c) reduce smoking occasions, and (d) smoke less. Three trained raters sorted responses into each of the categories. Definitions of quit and stop were most frequently categorized in the stop permanently category (86% and 75%, respectively). Definitions of cut down were distributed across categories, with 51% categorized as smoke less, 25% smoking less in a time frame, and 25% reducing number of cigarettes. Different definitions of stop were related to smoking history and motivation to quit, although the other two terms were not related to adolescent individual characteristics. Findings highlight the importance of using clearly defined questionnaire items when assessing adolescent smoking change efforts.     

Nicotine replacement therapy, professional therapy, snuff use and tobacco smoking: a study of smoking cessation strategies in southern Sweden

Objectives

The strategies used to support smoking cessation among quitters were investigated according to year of smoking cessation and sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods

The 2004 public health survey in Skåne, Sweden, is a cross‐sectional study. A total of 27 757 people aged 18–80 answered a postal questionnaire. The participation rate was 59%. Different strategies to support smoking cessation—that is, no therapy, nicotine replacement (NRT), professional therapy and snus (snuff) use, were investigated among quitters according to year of smoking cessation, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.

Results

14.9% of the men and 18.1% of the women were daily smokers. The prevalence of daily snus use was 19.5% among men but only 2.3% among women. Stratifying the data according to year of smoking cessation (1938–2004) revealed a significant increase in active smoking cessation strategies such as NRT, professional therapy and snus use. NRT was more common among women (23.6%) than men (14.8%) among smokers who quit in 2000–4, but snus use was more common among men (30.4% versus 8.7%). No replacement or other therapy at all was significantly more common among women (63.6%) than men (52.1%). People aged 35–80 years used more nicotine replacement than people aged 18–34, while men aged 18–34 used snus to quit smoking significantly more than men aged 55–80.

Conclusions

Snus is used commonly among men as a support for smoking cessation in Sweden. Women use pharmacological NRT to a greater extent, but this can probably not compensate for the much higher extent of snuff use as a cessation strategy among men.     

Brief report: pain and readiness to quit smoking cigarettes.

This study explored the relationship between smoking and significant pain. It was hypothesized that readiness to quit smoking would be negatively affected by pain issues. A cross-sectional design was used in this phone-based survey with randomly selected adult smokers. A total of 307 adult participants in the control group from a larger Quit and Win Study participated in the interview. Participants were contacted at home and completed a 20-min phone survey including measures of pain, stress, depressive symptoms, social support, tobacco use status, and readiness to quit smoking. A total of 28% reported significant pain in the past week. Participants who experienced significant pain smoked more cigarettes per day than those who did not report significant pain. However, pain was not associated with readiness to quit. More than half (58%) of those with significant pain were in the contemplation stage of change or higher. The fact that smokers with pain were just as likely as those without significant pain to be ready to quit demands that each individual patient with pain be assessed for readiness to quit so that a tailored approach can be adopted either to motivate the patient to quit or to assist the patient with evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment strategies if he or she wants such treatment. Placing formal tobacco dependence treatment programs within pain clinics and addressing pain in smoking cessation programs is recommended.     

Smoking cessation in general practice: the effects of a quitline.

This cross-sectional study assessed changes between 1999 and 2003 in attitudes among Swedish general practitioners (GPs) toward smoking cessation activities and also assessed the effect of a nationwide quitline on GPs' smoking cessation activities. A random sample of 621 Swedish GPs answered a questionnaire mailed to their home addresses in spring 2003. When possible, the results of the present study were compared with results from a similar study conducted in 1999. Main outcome measures were GPs' self-reported activities, perceived barriers to engaging in smoking cessation, and referrals to the quitline. Between 1999 and 2003, GPs increased their overall smoking cessation activities and were more aware of the complexity of smoking cessation support. Significantly more GPs experienced smoking cessation support as "too time consuming" and preferred to refer smokers to counselors specializing in smoking cessation. GPs referring patients to the quitline were more likely to be active in other smoking cessation activities. One out of five GPs had advised their patients to use oral smokeless tobacco as a means to stop smoking. A paradigm shift regarding awareness of the complexity of smoking cessation support may be ongoing amongst Swedish GPs. The nationwide smoking cessation quitline appears to have had a positive effect on GPs' engagement in smoking cessation.     

Initial evaluation of a real-world Internet smoking cessation system.

To significantly reduce smoking prevalence, treatments must balance reach, efficacy, and cost. The Internet can reach millions of smokers cost-effectively. Many cessation Web sites exist, but few have been evaluated. As a result, the potential impact of the Internet on smoking prevalence remains unknown. The present study reports the results, challenges, and limitations of a preliminary, large-scale evaluation of a broadly disseminated smoking cessation Web site used worldwide (QuitNet). Consecutive registrants (N=1,501) were surveyed 3 months after they registered on the Web site to assess 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Results must be interpreted cautiously because this is an uncontrolled study with a 25.6% response rate. Approximately 30% of those surveyed indicated they had already quit smoking at registration. Excluding these participants, an intention-to-treat analysis yielded 7% point prevalence abstinence (for the responders only, abstinence was 30%). A range of plausible cessation outcomes (9.8%-13.1%) among various subgroups is presented to illustrate the strengths and limitations of conducting Web-based evaluations, and the tensions between clinical and dissemination research methods. Process-to-outcome analyses indicated that sustained use of QuitNet, especially the use of social support, was associated with more than three times greater point prevalence abstinence and more than four times greater continuous abstinence. Despite its limitations, the present study provides useful information about the potential efficacy, challenging design and methodological issues, process-to-outcome mechanisms of action, and potential public health impact of Internet-based behavior change programs for smoking cessation.     

Evaluation of a culturally appropriate smoking cessation intervention for Latinos

BACKGROUND: Many believe that smoking cessation programmes for Latinos should be tailored to the values and beliefs of the culture. However, randomised studies of culturally appropriate smoking cessation interventions with Latinos are rare. METHODS: Latino smokers (n = 313) were randomised to an intervention condition or a comparison group. The intervention was a three month programme based on social cognitive constructs and delivered in the smoker's home by trained lay health advisors, or promotores. Comparison group participants were referred to the California Smoker's Helpline in Spanish. Predictors of abstinence among all participants also were examined. RESULTS: About one week post-intervention, validated (carbon monoxide) past week abstinence rates were more than twice as high in the intervention group (20.5%) than in the comparison (8.7%) (p < or = 0.005). The pattern of results held for self reported abstinence, and after recoding dropouts to non-abstinence. The primary predictor of abstinence was number of cigarettes smoked per day at baseline, a common measure of addiction. CONCLUSIONS: The culturally appropriate intervention facilitated abstinence in Latino smokers, at least in the short term. Strengths and weaknesses of the study are discussed.     

Seasonal variations in the initiation of smoking among adolescents.

Numerous studies have identified a variety of reasons that youths give for starting smoking. Few efforts have been made, however, to identify seasonal variations in initiation. This study was an attempt to fill that void. We examined data from 342 youths participating in a mandated smoking education and cessation program in Texas. Data were collected based on responses to questions in participant workbooks, including an item asking participants about the month in which they started smoking. A total of 47% of the participants indicated that they started smoking in May through August (chi2 = 91.42, df = 3). Post-hoc analyses indicated that significantly more youths than expected began smoking in May and June, whereas significantly fewer youths than expected began smoking in September and November. Unsupervised time out of school during the first months of summer vacation is a period of increased danger for smoking initiation. The significantly lower rates during September seem to be related to the beginning of school.     

Use of smokeless tobacco is a risk factor for cigarette smoking.

This study assessed the risk of smoking uptake over 2 years in adolescent boys (in grades 7 and 9) who had used smokeless tobacco (ST). We used logistic regression to determine whether the odds of adolescent boys taking up regular smoking over a period of 2 years were greater among initial nonsmokers who used ST, compared with nonusers of ST, after accounting for six well-established predictors of smoking. Initiation of weekly smoking 2 years after baseline was associated with ST use at baseline, even after including dichotomous measures of parent, sibling, or close friend smoking; low academic grades; 30-day alcohol use; and a scale measure of deviant behavior. With these other predictors included in the model, the odds ratio for the association of ST use with weekly smoking after 2 years was strong and significant (OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.45-4.47, p<.001). The use of ST in the 7th and 9th grades is a significant risk factor for subsequent smoking even when controlling for other factors.     

Recruitment of physician offices for an office-based adolescent smoking cessation study.

Physician office settings play an important role in tobacco cessation intervention. However, few tobacco cessation trials are conducted at these sites, in part because of the many challenges associated with recruiting community physician offices into research. The present study identified and implemented strategies for recruiting physician offices into a randomized clinical trial of tobacco screening and cessation interventions with adolescent patients. A total of 30 community physicians participated in focus groups to elicit their perceptions of facilitators of and barriers to initial engagement of physician practices and the subsequent enrollment of the practices in long-term research projects. Physicians identified facilitators such as (a) the involvement of office staff in the recruitment process and (b) on-site presentations of the study's background and aims. Some of the barriers identified were time commitment concerns and the lack of incentives in exchange for participation. These focus group findings were then integrated with theory-based and empirically driven recruitment strategies for a 12-month randomized tobacco intervention trial with adolescent patients. Of 185 office practices approached to participate (screened from a pool of 273 practices), 103 agreed to on-site presentations of the study. Subsequently, almost all of the practices (101) that received the presentation agreed to enroll in the study. Conclusions are that (a) recruitment is a multicomponent process, (b) the processes of communication, engagement, and enrollment must be carefully planned and implemented to achieve maximal results, and (c) the development of effective strategies for recruiting health care provider practices presents an important infrastructure for testing adolescent smoking cessation interventions.