title: Characteristics of American Indian light smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  American Indians (AI) have the highest smoking rates of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. and have more difficulty quitting smoking. Little is known about the smoking characteristics of AI smokers. The present study compared the demographic and smoking characteristics of light (≤10 cigarettes per day; N=206) and moderate/heavy (11+ cigarettes per day; N=86) AI smokers participating in a cross-sectional survey about smoking and health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple methods were used to recruit participants in attendance at powwows, health and career fairs, and conferences. A total of 998 AI (76% cooperation rate) completed a survey assessing general health, sociodemographics, traditional and commercial tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes related to cancer, source of health information and care and other health-related behaviors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AI light smokers were younger and less likely to be married or living with a partner compared to moderate/heavy smokers. AI light smokers were less dependent on smoking and more likely to have home smoking restrictions. There were no differences with respect to number of quit attempts in the past year or the average length of their most recent quit attempt by light vs. moderate/heavy smoking. In addition, a similar proportion of light and heavy smokers reported using tobacco for traditional purposes such as ceremonial, spiritual and prayer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight important differences between AI light and heavier smokers. Differences related to smoking characteristics such as level of dependence and home smoking restrictions have important implications for the treatment of AI smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 1080, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 1030, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. Electronic address: nnazir@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: Niaman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.forename: Bambi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bevil
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Babalola
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faseru
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCloskey
authors.forename: K Allen
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Won S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Christine Makosky
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Daley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: American Indians; Smoking