title: Smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among Alaska Native people: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have shown that Alaska Native people have higher smoking prevalence than non-Natives. However, no population-based studies have explored whether smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors also differ among Alaska Native people and non-Natives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared current smoking prevalence and smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Alaska Native adults living in the state of Alaska with non-Natives.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data for 1996 to 2010 to compare smoking prevalence, consumption, and cessation- and second-hand smoke-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among self-identified Alaska Native people and non-Natives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Current smoking prevalence was 41% (95% CI: 37.9%-44.4%) among Alaska Native people compared with 17.1% (95% CI: 15.9%-18.4%) among non-Natives. Among current every day smokers, Alaska Natives were much more likely to smoke less than 10 cigarettes per day (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.6-9.6) than non-Natives. Compared with non-Native smokers, Alaska Native smokers were as likely to have made a past year quit attempt (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.9-2.1), but the attempt was less likely to be successful (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2-0.9). Among current smokers, Alaska Natives were more likely to believe second-hand smoke (SHS) was very harmful (OR = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.8-7.2), to believe that smoking should not be allowed in indoor work areas (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.1) or in restaurants (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 2.5-6.9), to have a home smoking ban (OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-3.9), and to have no home exposure to SHS in the past 30 days (OR = 2.3, 95% CI: 1.5-3.6) than non-Natives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a disparity in current smoking exists, Alaska Native people have smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that are encouraging for reducing the burden of smoking in this population. Programs should support efforts to promote cessation, prevent relapse, and establish smoke-free environments.
authors.affiliation: Program Design and Evaluation Services, Multnomah County Health Department and Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, OR, USA. Kristen.rohde@state.or.us
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: Myde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boles
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bushore
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pizacani
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Alaska Native people; disparities; indigenous populations; smoking; smoking cessation