Short communicationEvaluation of smoking cessation behaviors and interventions among Latino smokers at low-income clinics in a US–Mexico border county
Introduction
Tobacco dependence has been identified as a chronic disease where the majority of people who use tobacco for many years cycle through multiple periods of relapse and remission (Fiore, Bailey, Cohen et al., 2000). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006) has identified that 16.2% of Hispanic adults are smokers. Among Mexican-Americans, 21.2% smoke (American Lung Association, 2007). Although smoking rates are generally lower among Latinos, information is still needed regarding the behaviors and attitudes regarding smoking cessation in this population.
An opinion paper on recent studies suggests that even reducing cigarette use among smokers may ultimately lead to quitting (Fagerström, 2005). Healthcare providers offering consistent and ongoing smoking cessation services help people abstain from tobacco use. Guidelines suggest that research is still needed among racial and ethnic minorities regarding motivators of cessation and identification of specific barriers to successful cessation (Fiore et al., 2000).
Understanding smoking characteristics communities serving Latino/as and the US–Mexico border community can help provide information to better understand smoking characteristics in the broader Latino/a population. This study was conducted in several outpatient border clinics in El Paso County, Texas, a community that is 81.7% Latino(a) of which 93.5% are Mexican-American (U.S. Census, 2005).
Section snippets
Objectives
The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate smoking cessation interventions among low-income Latino/a smokers living in a US–Mexico border community by: 1) identifying smoking characteristics and reasons for wanting to quit smoking at the start of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT); and 2) assessing abstinence rates, temptations, and coping mechanisms after initiating NRT.
Methods
This was a multi-center, prospective study collecting data through a written questionnaire at baseline and through telephone or personal interview at 8–12 weeks and 6 months. Participants were recruited from four university-affiliated community health clinics and one federally-qualified community health center where the populations were predominately Mexican-American, Spanish-speaking, and of lower-income status.
Results
A total of 94 Latino participants were evaluated. Baseline demographics for the study revealed that the average age was 51.2 years (Range: 25–78) with about half being males(52%). The response rate for the telephone surveys was 88%(83) for the 8–12 week follow-up and 83%(78) for the 6-month follow-up.
Discussion and limitations
Other studies have evaluated smoking prevalence, acculturation, and attitudes about smoking among Latino/a smokers (Bock et al., 2005, Daza et al., 2006, Foraker et al., 2005, Levinson et al., 2004, Wilkinson, et al., 2005). This study provides more specific information among Latino smokers regarding reasons for smoking, sources of support, and temptations.
In this study, reports of smoking status were subjective. Although efforts were made to word the questionnaires using the local vernacular,
Conclusions
Nearly 40% of participants reported that they had never tried to quit smoking before, thereby giving the clinic sites an opportunity make a difference in their communities. Half of the participants started smoking before age 18, reinforcing the need for cessation interventions in adolescents. Participants reported that the doctor's advice influenced their decision to make a quit attempt. Acknowledging temptations in this Latino/a population and between the sexes could assist smoking cessation
Acknowledgements
Funding was provided by the American Legacy Foundation through the Paso del Norte Health Foundation for Tobacco Free El Paso-Center for Border Health Research-Community Voices El Paso research initiatives. Clinic space was provided by Centro San Vicente and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Family and Community Medicine-El Paso. Administrative and research support provided by: Luan J. Coalwell, John Wiebe, PhD, Arthur Islas, MD, Kalpana Verma, MD, Dayle Sharp, Guadalupe
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