Smoking cessation behavior among intermittent smokers versus daily smokers

Am J Public Health. 2011 Jul;101(7):e1-3. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300186. Epub 2011 May 12.

Abstract

Nondaily intermittent smokers (ITS) are common, but their cessation behavior remains elusive. We examined cessation of native-ITS (n = 2040), converted-ITS (n = 1808), and daily smokers (DS; n = 25 344). All ITS were more likely than were DS to make a quit attempt (native-ITS adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42, 1.80; converted-ITS AOR = 3.33, 95% CI = 2.93, 3.78). Native-ITS (18%) and converted-ITS (27%) were more likely than were DS (13%) to quit smoking (native-ITS AOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.67; converted-ITS AOR = 2.36, 95% CI = 2.01, 2.78), but the low cessation rates of ITS challenge their nonaddicted status.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Odds Ratio
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking / psychology*
  • Smoking Cessation / psychology*
  • Smoking Cessation / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult