Staging of adult smokers according to the transtheoretical model of behavioural change: analysis of an eastern Ontario cohort.
OBJECTIVE
1) To describe the distribution of adult smokers in an existing cohort according to stages of change theory; and 2) to compare movements of these smokers through the stages of change.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of existing cohort data.


METHODS
Eastern Ontario.


METHODS
Adult smokers who: 1) enrolled in a Quit & Win Challenge, or 2) received smoking cessation information (Quit Kit) from their area health unit, or 3) were randomly selected by telephone survey.


RESULTS
706 smokers were recruited and followed for one year. Only 2% of the adult smokers selected by random telephone survey were in the "action" stage at baseline, compared with 14% of the Quit and Win Challenge participants, and 14% of the Quit Kit recipients. Variations in movement through the stages of change were observed between groups upon follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest a need to use stage-matched approaches when developing population-based smoking cessation interventions.
Pickett
W
W
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON. PickettW@post.QueensU.ca
Bains
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009864:Ontario; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires