'Occasional' and 'social' smokers: potential target groups for smoking cessation campaigns?
OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of self-described 'occasional' and 'social' Australian smokers.


METHODS
Analysis of a national cross-sectional survey of smoking patterns, conducted in Australia in 2004.


METHODS
Australian adults in 2004 who responded to a survey question about self-described smoking status.


METHODS
Demographic characteristics, patterns of alcohol and tobacco use, smoking cessation attempts in the past year, and interest in cessation.


RESULTS
Smokers who described themselves as 'occasional' and 'social' smokers comprised 29% of all smokers. A significant proportion of occasional and social smokers had been daily smokers, but the majority either believed that they had 'already quit' or had no intention of quitting smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-ascribed occasional and social smokers potentially represent an important target group for cessation. These types of smokers may be more resistant to public health messages regarding cessation because they do not view their smoking behaviour as presenting a high risk.
Morley
Katherine I
KI
Genetic Epidemiology Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, P O Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland. kateM@qimr.edu.au
Hall
Wayne D
WD
Hausdorf
Katrin
K
Owen
Neville
N
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology