Smokers' response to combination bupropion, nicotine patch, and counseling treatment by race/ethnicity.
BACKGROUND
Evidence on how to tailor nicotine dependence treatment to specific race/ethnic groups is limited. The present study investigated responses to established smoking cessation treatments among African American, Hispanic, and White adults.


METHODS
Participants were 559 smokers (126 African American, 73 Hispanic, and 360 White). All received treatment for eight weeks with open-label bupropion, the nicotine patch, and individual counseling. The dependent variable was tobacco abstinence during the last four weeks of treatment. The independent variables were race/ethnicity and other known predictors of abstinence, including sex, age, smoking history (nicotine dependence level, number of cigarettes smoked daily, serum cotinine level and expired carbon monoxide, number of past quit attempts, and age when daily smoking began), confidence in ability to stop smoking, body mass index, psychological status, and psychiatric history (past major depression and alcohol dependence).


RESULTS
The total proportion of abstainers in the sample was 53%, with proportional differences by race/ethnicity (Whites 60%, African Americans 38%, Hispanics 41%). Compared to Whites, the odds ratios (OR) for quitting, adjusted for moderators of race/ ethnicity and other predictors of abstinence, were significantly lower among African Americans (OR .44, 95% confidence interval 195% CI] .27-.72) and Hispanics (OR .46, 95% CI .26-.81).


CONCLUSIONS
Disparity in smoking cessation treatment outcome among African American and Hispanic smokers compared to Whites implies that the burden of tobacco-related illness will continue to fall disproportionately among minority racial/ethnic groups. Gaining knowledge on the effectiveness of nicotine dependence treatments and on the factors that facilitate or impede a successful response by minority smokers is a public health priority.
Covey
Lirio S
LS
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City, New York, USA. lsc3@columbia.edu
Botello-Harbaum
Maria
M
Glassman
Alexander H
AH
Masmela
Jenny
J
LoDuca
Catherine
C
Salzman
Victoria
V
Fried
Jane
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000379:methods*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion; D009538:Nicotine