Do sex and ethnic differences in smoking initiation mask similarities in cessation behavior?
OBJECTIVE
This study compared success in smoking cessation by sex, ethnic status, and birth cohort.


METHODS
African and European American respondents to the 1996 Current Population Survey (tobacco supplement) and the 1987 National Health Interview Survey (cancer control and cancer epidemiology supplements) constituted the study population. Elapsed time from smoking initiation to cessation was compared via nonparametric tests and survival analysis techniques.


RESULTS
Findings showed that success in quitting was independent of ethnic status and sex and that population differences in smoking initiation age (assuming no differences in quitting behavior) could produce statistical associations between sex/ethnicity and smoking cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Population differences in smoking initiation patterns can mask similarities in cessation rates.
McGrady
Gene A
GA
Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA. genemc@gene.msm.edu
Pederson
Linda L
LL
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data