title: Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics of American Indian Tribal College Students Participating in a Tribal College Tobacco and Behavioral Survey.
abstract: American Indians (AIs) have the highest cigarette smoking rates of any racial/ethnic group in the United States. Although the overall smoking prevalence in the United States for nonminority populations has decreased over the past several decades, the same pattern is not observed among AIs. The purpose of this observational study was to collect cigarette smoking and related information from American Indian tribal college students to inform tailored interventions.
  
  
  
  We conducted a repeated cross-sectional survey of American Indian tribal college students, Tribal College Tobacco and Behavior Survey (TCTABS), with a focus on recruiting all incoming freshman at three participating tribal colleges in the Midwest and Northern Plains regions. A total of 1256 students participated in the baseline surveys between April 2011 and October 2014.
  
  
  
  The overall smoking prevalence of this sample was 34.7%, with differences by region (Northern Plains-44.0% and Midwest-28%). The majority, 87.5% of current smokers reported smoking 10 or less cigarettes per day, 41% reported smoking menthol cigarettes, 52% smoked Marlboro brand, and the mean age of their first cigarette was 14 years. The majority, 62% had made at least one quit attempt in the past year. The overwhelming majority of respondents, regardless of their smoking status, thought that the current smoking prevalence on campus was greater than 41% and approximately one-third believed that it was as high as 61%.
  
  
  
  Very few studies of smoking have been conducted in this population and results from our study confirm the need for effective interventions.
  
  
  
  AIs have the highest cigarette smoking rates compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Furthermore, limited studies have examined the epidemiology of cigarette smoking among tribal college students. This study addresses health disparities related to smoking among college students by examining the demographic, cultural, and environmental characteristics of smoking and quitting. Results from this study could lead to the development of a culturally-tailored smoking cessation and prevention program for American Indian tribal college students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; wchoi@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: Won S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS;
authors.forename: Niaman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: American Indian Health Research and Education Alliance, Inc, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: American Indian Health Research and Education Alliance, Inc, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Melissa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS;
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: White Bull
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS;
authors.forename: Christi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nance
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Babalola
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faseru
authors.affiliation: American Indian Health Research and Education Alliance, Inc, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: K Allen
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; American Indian Health Research and Education Alliance, Inc, Kansas City, KS; Center for American Indian Community Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS; Department of Family Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS.
authors.forename: Christine Makosky
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Daley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult