Disparities in Cessation Behaviors Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Adult Cigarette Smokers in the United States, 2000-2015

Abstract

Introduction: Hispanic adults make up a growing share of US adult smokers, and smoking is a major preventable cause of disease and death among Hispanic adults. No previous study has compared trends in smoking cessation behaviors among Hispanic adults and non-Hispanic white adults over time. We examined trends in cessation behaviors among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adult cigarette smokers during 2000-2015.

Methods: Using self-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey, we compared trends in quit attempts, receipt of advice to quit from a health professional, and use of cessation treatment (counseling and/or medication) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white adult smokers. We also assessed these behaviors among 4 Hispanic subgroups. We conducted analyses in 2018-2019.

Results: Past-year quit attempts increased during 2000-2015 among both non-Hispanic white and Hispanic smokers, with no significant differences between these groups. Receiving advice to quit increased significantly among non-Hispanic white adults but did not increase significantly among Hispanic adults. Cessation treatment use increased among both non-Hispanic white and Hispanic adults. Throughout 2000-2015, the prevalence of receiving advice to quit and using cessation treatments was lower among Hispanic adults than non-Hispanic white adults. In 2015, a higher proportion of Hispanic than non-Hispanic white smokers visited a health care provider without receiving advice to quit.

Conclusion: Hispanic adult smokers are less likely to receive advice to quit and to use proven cessation treatments than non-Hispanic white smokers, and this pattern persisted over time. Culturally competent educational initiatives directed at both providers and Hispanic communities could help eliminate this marked and persistent disparity.

Figure 1

Prevalence of and change in past-year quit attempt, receiving a health professional’s advice to quit, and cessation treatment use among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white cigarette smokers aged ≥18 years, by year, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2000–2015. Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 2

Prevalence of past-year quit attempt and cessation treatment use by provider advice among Hispanic current smokers and non-Hispanic white current smokers aged ≥18 years, National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2015. “No visit” indicates no visit to a health care provider in the past year. The value for prevalence of treatment use among Hispanic adults with no visit is not reported because of unstable estimates. Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals.