title: Associations between health literacy and established predictors of smoking cessation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined associations between health literacy and predictors of smoking cessation among 402 low-socioeconomic status (SES), racially/ethnically diverse smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected as part of a larger study evaluating smoking health risk messages. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses to examine relations between health literacy and predictors of smoking cessation (i.e., nicotine dependence, smoking outcome expectancies, smoking risk perceptions and knowledge, self-efficacy, intentions to quit or reduce smoking).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower health literacy was associated with higher nicotine dependence, more positive and less negative smoking outcome expectancies, less knowledge about smoking health risks, and lower risk perceptions. Associations remained significant (P < .05) after controlling for demographics and SES-related factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide the first evidence that low health literacy may serve as a critical and independent risk factor for poor cessation outcomes among low-socioeconomic status, racially/ethnically diverse smokers. Research is needed to investigate potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230-1402, USA. dwstewart@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Diana W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: Virmarie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Correa-Fernández
authors.forename: Yisheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wetter
authors.forename: Jennifer Irvin
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Vidrine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012923:Social Class; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult