Tob Control 2001;10:170-174 ( Summer )

Smoking cessation in China: findings from the 1996 national prevalence survey

Gonghuan Yang^a, Jiemin Ma^b, Aiping Chen^b, Yifang Zhang^c, Jonathan M Samet^d, Carl E Taylor^d, Karen Becker^d

^a Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, and The World Health Organization, ^b Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, ^c Chinese Association of Smoking and Health, ^d The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, and The Global Institute for Tobacco Control, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Correspondence to: Professor Samet, Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA jsamet{at}jhsph.edu

Received 15 February 2000; Revision received 31 October 2000; Accepted 9 November 2000

OBJECTIVESTo describe patterns of smoking and smoking cessation in China within the context of the stages of change model, using data from the 1996 national prevalence survey.
DESIGNA cross sectional survey was carried out using the 145 preselected disease surveillance points, which provide a representative sample for the entire country. A standardised questionnaire on smoking was interviewer administered.
SETTINGThe country of China.
SUBJECTS122 220 people aged 15-69 years.
MAINTENANCE MEASURESSmoking cessation patterns, as defined by smoking status (current or former) and stage of change (precontemplation, contemplation, and action).
RESULTSThe sample included 45 995 ever smokers of whom 4336 had quit. About 72% of current smokers reported not intending to give up their smoking behaviour, and about 16% of current smokers said they intended to do so, but have not taken any action. Of all ever smokers, the percentage of former smokers was 9.5%, and 12% of current smokers had quit at least once, but relapsed by the time of the survey. The patterns were similar in men and women with regard to the stated intent to quit. Among males, the percentage of former smokers increased with age but the percentage intending to quit was constant at about 15% across age strata. The most common reason for quitting was illness. Participants with a university education were more likely to have made an attempt to quit.
CONCLUSIONSThe percentage of smokers contemplating quitting was low in China in 1996. The study shows that smokers in China must be mobilised to contemplate quitting and then to take action.

Key points 72% of current smokers in China did not intend to give up smoking in 1996 About 10% of ever smokers in China have stopped smoking The relapse rate equals the rate of quitting Key professional groups (health workers and teachers) have similar cessation patterns to the general population The most common reason for quitting was illness Smokers in China should be mobilised to contemplate quitting and then to take action

Keywords: China; cessation; smoking patterns

---

© 2001 by Tobacco Control
CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Zhu, W. H., Yang, L., Jiang, C. Q., Deng, L. Z., Lam, T. H., Zhang, J. Y., Chan, S. S.C. (2009). Characteristics of smokers and predictors of quitting in a smoking cessation clinic in Guangzhou, China. J Public Health (Oxf) 0: fdp107v1-fdp107 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nakamura, K, Huxley, R, Ansary-Moghaddam, A, Woodward, M (2009). The hazards and benefits associated with smoking and smoking cessation in Asia: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Tobacco Control 18: 345-353 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Nakamura, K, Barzi, F, Huxley, R, Lam, T-H, Suh, I, Woo, J, Kim, H C, Feigin, V L, Gu, D, Woodward, M, for the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration, (2009). Does cigarette smoking exacerbate the effect of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the risk of cardiovascular diseases?. Heart 95: 909-916 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• He, Y., Lam, T. H., Jiang, B., Wang, J., Sai, X., Fan, L., Li, X., Qin, Y., Hu, F. B. (2009). Combined effects of tobacco smoke exposure and metabolic syndrome on cardiovascular risk in older residents of china.. J Am Coll Cardiol 53: 363-371 [Full Text]  
• Barzi, F, Huxley, R, Jamrozik, K, Lam, T-H, Ueshima, H, Gu, D, Kim, H C, Woodward, M (2008). Association of smoking and smoking cessation with major causes of mortality in the Asia Pacific Region: the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration. Tobacco Control 17: 166-172 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Huxley, R, Jamrozik, K, Lam, T., Barzi, F, Ansary-Moghaddam, A, Jiang, C., Suh, I, Woodward, M, on behalf of the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Colla, (2007). Impact of Smoking and Smoking Cessation on Lung Cancer Mortality in the Asia-Pacific Region. Am J Epidemiol 165: 1280-1286 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lessov-Schlaggar, C. N, Pang, Z., Swan, G. E, Guo, Q., Wang, S., Cao, W., Unger, J. B, Johnson, C A., Lee, L. (2006). Heritability of cigarette smoking and alcohol use in Chinese male twins: the Qingdao twin registry. Int J Epidemiol 35: 1278-1285 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Xu, G., Liu, X., Jiang, B., Wang, W.-z. (2006). Has Stroke Shifted From Hemorrhagic to Ischemic in China?. Stroke 37: 941-942 [Full Text]  
• Chapman, R. S, He, X., Blair, A. E, Lan, Q. (2005). Improvement in household stoves and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Xuanwei, China: retrospective cohort study. BMJ 331: 1050- [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Frieden, T. R., Blakeman, D. E. (2005). The Dirty Dozen: 12 Myths That Undermine Tobacco Control. AJPH 95: 1500-1505 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Abdullah, A S M, Husten, C G (2004). Promotion of smoking cessation in developing countries: a framework for urgent public health interventions. Thorax 59: 623-630 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Shelley, D., Fahs, M., Scheinmann, R., Swain, S., Qu, J., Burton, D. (2004). Acculturation and Tobacco Use Among Chinese Americans. AJPH 94: 300-307 [Abstract] [Full Text]