Socioeconomic position and abrupt versus gradual method of quitting smoking: findings from the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic position (income and education) and abrupt versus gradual method of smoking cessation.


METHODS
The analysis used data (n = 5,629) from Waves 1 through 6 (2002-2008) of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey, a prospective study of a cohort of smokers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.


RESULTS
Logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equations showed that higher income (p < .001) and higher education (p = .011) were associated with a higher probability of abrupt versus gradual quitting. The odds of adopting abrupt versus gradual quitting were about 40% higher among respondents with high income ($60,000 and more in the United States/Canada/Australia and £30,000 and more in the United Kingdom) compared with those with low income (less than $30,000 in the United States/Canada/Australia; £15,000 and less in the United Kingdom). Similarly, the odds of abrupt versus gradual quitting were about 30% higher among respondents with a high level of education (university degree) compared with those with a low level of education (high school diploma or lower).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher socioeconomic position is associated with a higher probability of quitting abruptly rather than gradually reducing smoking before quitting.
Siahpush
Mohammad
M
Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6075, USA. msiahpush@unmc.edu
Yong
Hua-Hie
HH
Borland
Ron
R
Reid
Jessica L
JL
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult