Predictors of quitting smoking: the NHANES I followup experience

• Published in: Journal of clinical epidemiology Vol. 43; no. 12; p. 1399
• Main Authors: McWhorter, W P, Boyd, G M, Mattson, M E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1990
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Continental Population Groups; Cues; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hospitalization; Humans; Income; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Recurrence; Residence Characteristics; Sex Factors; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking - psychology; Smoking Prevention; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0895-4356
• DOI: 10.1016/0895-4356(90)90108-2

There are no published prospective studies on the predictors of spontaneously quitting cigarette smoking in a nationally-representative U.S. population. This paper describes such a study, using a cohort taken from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I, 1971-1975) and traced by the NHANES I Epidemiologic Followup Survey (1982-1984). "Successful" quitting (for at least 1 year at time of followup) was ascertained among 4779 adults (age 25-74 years) who were smokers at the time of NHANES I and not disabled at followup. Independent predictors of quitting (by proportional hazards multiple regression) were: (1) older age; (2) White race; (3) fewer cigarettes smoked/day; (4) higher household income; and (5) hospitalization in the followup period. Predictors of relapse (ex-smokers at NHANES I who were smoking again at time of followup) were: (1) younger age; (2) urban residence; and (3) female gender. These findings have implications for intervention strategies, public health projections and further research.