Rural smokers - a prevention opportunity.
BACKGROUND
Smoking is the largest single cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. This study describes smoking prevalence and the characteristics of rural smokers to guide general practitioners in targeting particular groups.


METHODS
Cross sectional surveys in the Greater Green Triangle region of southeast Australia using a random population sample (n=1563, participation rate 48.7%) aged 25-74 years. Smoking information was assessed by a self administered questionnaire.


RESULTS
Complete smoking data were available for 1494 participants. Overall age adjusted current smoking prevalence was 14.9% (95% CI: 13.1-16.7). In both genders, current smoking prevalence decreased with age. Those aged 25-44 years were more likely to want to stop smoking and to have attempted cessation, but less likely to have received cessation advice than older smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides baseline smoking data for rural health monitoring and identifies intervention opportunities. General practice is suited to implement interventions for smoking prevention and cessation at every patient encounter, particularly in younger individuals.royal, australian, college, general, practitioner, gp, doctor, medical, practice, racgp, health, care, medication, information, practitioners, family, physician, 2009, AFP, May, sleep, rural, smokers, prevention
Chapman
Anna
A
Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health, Flinders and Deakin Universities, Warrnambool, Monash University, Victoria. anna.chapman@med.monash.edu.au
Bunker
Stephen
S
Dunbar
James
J
Philpot
Benjamin
B
McNamara
Kevin
K
Baird
Andrew
A
Vartiainen
Erkki
E
Laatikainen
Tiina
T
Janus
Edward
E
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires