Racial/ethnic group comparisons of quit ratios and prevalences of cessation-related factors among adults who smoke with a quit attempt

ABSTRACT

Background

Smoking-related disparities exist among racial/ethnic minoritized groups.

Objective

We compared quit ratios and smoking cessation-related protective and risk factors by race/ethnicity to inform approaches to reduce disparities.

Methods

Among adults who smoke with a quit attempt from Wave 4 (2016–2017) Population Assessment of Tobacco Use and Health Study, the following factors were examined by racial/ethnic group (American Indians/Alaska Native [AI/AN;n = 165], Black/African American [AA;n = 526], Asian [n = 38], Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish [n = 475], or White [n = 1,960]), wherein each were nearly gender-balanced: cessation medications, counseling/self-help materials, home smoking ban, social support, e-cigarette use, sleep, and mental health.

Results

Quit ratio was lower for AI/AN (adjusted odds ratio[aOR]:0.61) and Black/AA (aOR:0.49) and higher for Asian (aOR:1.90) and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:1.30) than White adults. Medication use was low among all and lower among Black/AA (aOR:0.70) and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:0.56) than White adults. Use of counseling/self-help materials were low among all and higher in AI/AN (aOR:1.85), Black/AA (aOR:1.87), and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:1.49) than White adults. Presence of a smoking ban was lower among Black/AA (aOR:0.40) and higher in Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:1.59) than White adults. E-cigarette use was lower in Black/AA (aOR:0.53) and Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Spanish (aOR:0.43) than White adults. Sadness, anxiety, and sleep difficulties were higher in AI/AN (aORs:1.57, 1.50, 1.64) than White adults.

Conclusions

All racial/ethnic groups would benefit from policies and programs that increase cessation medications and counseling. Quit ratios were particularly low among Black/AA and AI/AN adults. Black/AA adults may benefit from efforts to increase smoking bans, while AI/AN adults may benefit from cessation approaches that simultaneously target sleep and mental health.

KEYWORDS:

• American Indian/Alaska Native persons; health disparities; tobacco use; cessation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers [K01MD014795, R01CA221819-01A1S1, and P20CA253255-01]. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.