INTRODUCTION: Area-level indicators of socio-economic variation are frequently included in models of individual health outcomes. Area disadvantage is linearly related to smoking prevalence, but its relation to cessation outcomes is less well understood. AIMS: To explore the relationship between area-level disadvantage and prospective data on smoking cessation. DESIGN AND METHODS: The Australian cohort of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey (N = 3503) was used to prospectively examine the contribution of area-level socio-economic disadvantage to predicting three important smoking-cessation outcomes: making a quit attempt, achieving 1 month abstinence and achieving 6 month abstinence from smoking, while controlling for individual-level socio-economic indicators and other individual-level covariates related to smoking cessation. RESULTS: Only two independent associations were observed between socio-economic disadvantage and cessation outcomes. Area-level disadvantage was related to 1 month abstinence in a non-linear fashion, and the individual experience of smoking-induced deprivation was associated with a lower likelihood of making quit attempts. DISCUSSION: Despite the documented higher prevalence of smoking among the more disadvantaged and in more disadvantaged areas, socio-economic disadvantage was not consistently related to making quit attempts, nor to medium-term success. Nevertheless, indirect effects of disadvantage, like its impact on psychological distress, cannot be ruled out, and considering smokers' individual psychosocial circumstances is likely to aid cessation efforts. CONCLUSION: Socio-economic disadvantage, particularly at the area level, poses few direct barriers to smoking cessation.
INTRODUCTION: Area-level indicators of socio-economic variation are frequently included in models of individual health outcomes. Area disadvantage is linearly related to smoking prevalence, but its relation to cessation outcomes is less well understood. AIMS: To explore the relationship between area-level disadvantage and prospective data on smoking cessation. DESIGN AND METHODS: The Australian cohort of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey (N = 3503) was used to prospectively examine the contribution of area-level socio-economic disadvantage to predicting three important smoking-cessation outcomes: making a quit attempt, achieving 1 month abstinence and achieving 6 month abstinence from smoking, while controlling for individual-level socio-economic indicators and other individual-level covariates related to smoking cessation. RESULTS: Only two independent associations were observed between socio-economic disadvantage and cessation outcomes. Area-level disadvantage was related to 1 month abstinence in a non-linear fashion, and the individual experience of smoking-induced deprivation was associated with a lower likelihood of making quit attempts. DISCUSSION: Despite the documented higher prevalence of smoking among the more disadvantaged and in more disadvantaged areas, socio-economic disadvantage was not consistently related to making quit attempts, nor to medium-term success. Nevertheless, indirect effects of disadvantage, like its impact on psychological distress, cannot be ruled out, and considering smokers' individual psychosocial circumstances is likely to aid cessation efforts. CONCLUSION: Socio-economic disadvantage, particularly at the area level, poses few direct barriers to smoking cessation.
Authors: Jorge Delva; Marisol Tellez; Tracy L Finlayson; Kimberlee A Gretebeck; Kristine Siefert; David R Williams; Amid I Ismail Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Karen Moore; Ron Borland; Hua-Hie Yong; Mohammad Siahpush; K Michael Cummings; James F Thrasher; Geoffrey T Fong Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2012-06-20 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Mohammad Siahpush; James F Thrasher; Hua H Yong; K Michael Cummings; Geoffrey T Fong; Belén Saenz de Miera; Ron Borland Journal: Tob Control Date: 2012-08-25 Impact factor: 7.552