title: Transitions in smoking status over time in a population-based panel study of smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the transitions of smokers in the general population through multiple periods of daily, occasional smoking, or abstinence over time. Transitions from daily to occasional smoking are particularly of interest as these may be steps toward cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Ontario Tobacco Survey panel study followed 4,355 baseline smokers, semiannually for up to 3 years. Probabilities of all possible changes in smoking status more than 6 months were estimated using 13,000 repeated measures observations generated from sets of 3 consecutive interviews (n = 9,932 daily smokers, 1,245 occasion smokers, and 1,823 abstinent for at least 30 days, at Time 1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For initial daily smokers, an estimated 83% remained daily smokers more than 2 follow-ups. The majority of those who had been abstinent for 30 days at 1 interview, were also former smokers at the following interview. In contrast, occasional smoking status was unstable and future smoking status was dependent upon smoking history and subjective dependence. Among daily smokers who became occasional smokers 6 months later, an estimated 20% became a former smoker, at the next interview, but 50% returned to daily smoking. Daily, turned occasional smokers who rebounded back to daily smoking were more likely to describe themselves as addicted at Time 1. Continuing occasional smokers were somewhat less likely to intend to quit, or have tried, despite considering themselves less addicted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing to occasional smoking can be a stepping stone toward cessation but entails a greater risk of return to daily smoking, compared with complete abstinence.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. sue.bondy@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: J Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: Lori M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Diemert
authors.forename: Graham C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Mecredy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaiton
authors.forename: K Stephen
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Joanna E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrence
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selby
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors