title: Perceived risk and quitting behaviors: results from the ITC 4-country survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To rigorously test the relation between perceived risk (i.e., belief about the likelihood of harm) and quitting smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a longitudinal study with a nonrestrictive sample of smokers (N = 4307) from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia were examined to predict quitting behaviors at 8-12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived risk predicted plans to quit, quit attempts, and, to some extent, sustained quitting. The relation was stronger for relatively simple (e.g., plans to quit) than for complex behaviors (e.g., sustained quitting).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived risk plays a significant role in predicting quitting smoking, more so for relatively simple behaviors.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. mjecoste@uwaterloo.ca
authors.forename: Mary Jean
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Logel
authors.forename: Geoffrey T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zanna
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: McDonald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult