Smoking among HIV positive New Yorkers: prevalence, frequency, and opportunities for cessation.
Tobacco use presents unique health risks for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). There is an urgent need to characterize tobacco use among PLWHA, and to assess the capacity of HIV/AIDS service providers to deliver smoking cessation interventions. Questionnaires were administered to PLWHA in care in New York State (n = 1,094) and to State-funded HIV/AIDS service providers (n = 173) from 2005 to 2007. Current PLWHA smoking prevalence was 59%, three times the general population rate. Over 50% of current smokers were moderately or highly dependent on nicotine. Three-quarters of smokers indicated an interest in quitting, and 64% reported a least one quit attempt during the past year. Less than half of HIV/AIDS service providers reported always assessing tobacco use status, history, dependence, or interest in quitting at intake. Medical care providers were more likely to conduct assessments and provide services. Although 94% of providers indicated a willingness to incorporate tobacco cessation services, 65% perceived client resistance as a barrier to services. HIV/AIDS service providers are inadequately addressing the high smoking rate among PLWHA, despite being uniquely suited to do so. Efforts are needed to educate providers about the need for, and interest in, tobacco cessation.
Tesoriero
James M
JM
Office of Program Evaluation and Research AIDS Institute, New York State Department of Health, Menands, NY 12204, USA. jmt07@health.state.ny.us
Gieryic
Susan M
SM
Carrascal
Alvaro
A
Lavigne
Howard E
HE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents