The relationship between acculturation and knowledge of health harms and benefits associated with smoking in the Latino population of Minnesota.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to examine the relationship between acculturation and the knowledge of smoking and health and perception of benefits associated with smoking within the Latino population of Minnesota. In addition to standard acculturation measures, this study employed a multidimensional model and measures of acculturation.


METHODS
A telephone and in-person administered survey was conducted across the state of Minnesota with Latino men and women.


RESULTS
A total of 804 participants completed the survey, 54% were men. The average age of respondents was 37 years; 81% were foreign born and 68% completed the interview in Spanish. Knowledge of the relationship between smoking and lung cancer (99%) and heart disease (93%) was high. Acculturated respondents indicate a more refined knowledge of the relationship between smoking and health conditions not related to smoking (poor vision and arthritis). Smokers identify more benefits associated with smoking than do non-smokers, with gender (male), education (less than high school) and greater acculturation being significant predictors of perceiving benefits.
Constantine
Melissa L
ML
Division of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, C312 Mayo Memorial Building, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States. cons0026@umn.edu
Rockwood
Todd H
TH
Schillo
Barbara A
BA
Castellanos
Jose William
JW
Foldes
Steven S
SS
Saul
Jessie E
JE
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology