Latinos report less use of pharmaceutical aids when trying to quit smoking.
BACKGROUND
Latino smokers are more likely than white non-Latino smokers to attempt cessation, but less likely to receive cessation advice from physicians or to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Proposed underlying causes have included lighter smoking, lower financial status, and less healthcare access. This study assessed these factors as possible explanations for disparate rates of smoking-cessation support.


METHODS
Data were analyzed from a random, population-level telephone survey of Colorado adults that interviewed 10,945 white non-Latino respondents and 1004 Latino respondents. For the current analysis, main outcome measures were receipt of physician advice to quit smoking, use of NRT, and use of bupropion or other anti-depressant for smoking cessation.


RESULTS
Latino smokers reported higher prevalence of quit attempts (71.5% v 61.6%, p <0.01) but less physician advice to quit smoking (46.4% v 56.2%, p <0.05) and less use of NRT or an anti-depressant for cessation (10.6% v 24.8%, p <0.0001). Adjusted for potentially confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) for less Latino use of cessation medications was substantial and significant (full model OR=0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.17 to 0.57). The adjusted OR for physician cessation advice was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Population-level differences in health status, smoking level, financial status, or healthcare access do not explain why Latino smokers less often use proven pharmaceutical aids to increase cessation. Further research is needed to understand these disparities, and greater effort is needed to deliver cessation support to Latino smokers seeking to quit.
Levinson
Arnold H
AH
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. levinsona@amc.org
Pérez-Stable
Eliseo J
EJ
Espinoza
Paula
P
Flores
Estevan T
ET
Byers
Tim E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000379:methods; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D016642:Bupropion; D009538:Nicotine