Martin J Jarvis1, Jane Wardle, Jo Waller, Lesley Owen. 1. Cancer Research UK Health Behaviour Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT. martin.jarvis@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the prevalence and characteristics of hardcore smokers in England. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey. SETTING: Interview in respondents' household. PARTICIPANTS: 7766 adult cigarette smokers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hardcore smoking defined by four criteria (less than a day without cigarettes in the past five years; no attempt to quit in the past year; no desire to quit; no intention to quit), all of which had to be satisfied. RESULTS: Some 16% of all smokers were categorised as hardcore. Hardcore smoking was associated with nicotine dependence, socioeconomic deprivation, and age, rising from 5% in young adults aged 16-24 to 30% in those aged >or= 65 years. Hardcore smokers displayed distinctive attitudes towards and beliefs about smoking. In particular they were likely to deny that smoking affected their health or would do so in the future. Prevalence of hardcore smoking was almost four times higher than in California. CONCLUSION: Hardcore smoking presents a serious challenge to public health efforts to reduce the prevalence of smoking, but the proportion of hardcore smokers does not necessarily increase as overall prevalence in a population declines. More hardcore smokers could be persuaded to quit, but this will require interventions that are targeted to the particular needs and perceptions of both socially disadvantaged and older smokers.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the prevalence and characteristics of hardcore smokers in England. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey. SETTING: Interview in respondents' household. PARTICIPANTS: 7766 adult cigarette smokers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hardcore smoking defined by four criteria (less than a day without cigarettes in the past five years; no attempt to quit in the past year; no desire to quit; no intention to quit), all of which had to be satisfied. RESULTS: Some 16% of all smokers were categorised as hardcore. Hardcore smoking was associated with nicotine dependence, socioeconomic deprivation, and age, rising from 5% in young adults aged 16-24 to 30% in those aged >or= 65 years. Hardcore smokers displayed distinctive attitudes towards and beliefs about smoking. In particular they were likely to deny that smoking affected their health or would do so in the future. Prevalence of hardcore smoking was almost four times higher than in California. CONCLUSION: Hardcore smoking presents a serious challenge to public health efforts to reduce the prevalence of smoking, but the proportion of hardcore smokers does not necessarily increase as overall prevalence in a population declines. More hardcore smokers could be persuaded to quit, but this will require interventions that are targeted to the particular needs and perceptions of both socially disadvantaged and older smokers.
Authors: M Siegel; P D Mowery; T P Pechacek; W J Strauss; M W Schooley; R K Merritt; T E Novotny; G A Giovino; M P Eriksen Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2000-03 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Micaela H Coady; John Jasek; Karen Davis; Bonnie Kerker; Elizabeth A Kilgore; Sarah B Perl Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2012-10 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Billie Bonevski; Christine Paul; Catherine D'Este; Robert Sanson-Fisher; Robert West; Afaf Girgis; Mohammad Siahpush; Robert Carter Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2011-01-31 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Evangelos C Alexopoulos; Eleni Jelastopulu; Konstantinos Aronis; Dimitris Dougenis Journal: Environ Health Prev Med Date: 2009-10-03 Impact factor: 3.674