title: Perceived cessation treatment effectiveness, medication preferences, and barriers to quitting among light and moderate/heavy homeless smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homeless individuals smoke at disproportionately high rates and quit at disproportionately low rates relative to domiciled smokers. Targeted research is needed to inform future interventions. Socio-demographic characteristics of homeless adults suggest that light smoking may be prevalent, and the relation between smoking level and treatment-related preferences/needs is unknown. The current study addressed these gaps in a sample of homeless smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N=237) were homeless adult daily light (1-10 cigarettes per day) and moderate/heavy (>10 cigarettes per day) smokers recruited from a single shelter that offered cessation treatment. Survey items assessed perceived treatment effectiveness, pharmacological intervention preferences, and barriers to quitting smoking. Logistic regressions were used to assess differences in treatment-related factors by smoking level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of light smoking (44.7%) was higher than in previously studied samples of domiciled smokers. Relative to moderate/heavy smokers, light smokers smoked for fewer years, had more quit attempts in the last year, and were more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes. They were less likely to believe that medications would give them the greatest chance of quitting and more likely to believe that group counseling would be helpful. Light smokers did not differ from moderate/heavy smokers on specific pharmacological intervention preferences or on perceived barriers to quitting smoking, including craving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The promotion of pharmacotherapy to address cravings may be necessary for light smokers, who represent a sizeable proportion of homeless smokers and who may make apt intervention targets given their higher rates of purposeful quit attempts relative to heavier smoking counterparts.
authors.affiliation: The University of Houston, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Houston, TX 77204, USA.
authors.forename: Minh-Anh H
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: The University of Houston, College of Education, Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77204-5029, USA. Electronic address: lrreitzel@uh.edu.
authors.forename: Lorraine R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Reitzel
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9128, USA; The UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Population Science and Cancer Control Program, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9128, USA.
authors.forename: Darla E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kendzor
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9128, USA; The UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Population Science and Cancer Control Program, 6011 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9128, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Businelle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Homeless smokers; Light daily smoking; Medication preferences; Quitting barriers; Smoking level; Treatment effectiveness