Age as a predictor of quit attempts and quit success in smoking cessation: findings from the International Tobacco Control Four‐Country survey (2002–14)

Abstract

Background and Aims Past research has found that young smokers are more likely to make quit attempts; however, there are conflicting findings regarding age and quit success. This study examined the degree to which smoker age is related to making quit attempts and quit success. Design Ten waves of the International Tobacco Control Policy Cohort survey (ITC-4C) collected between 2002 and 2014, with nine wave-to-wave transitions with predictors at the first wave predicting quit attempts and success by the next wave. Setting Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Participants Data from 15 874 smokers categorized into four age groups at baseline (18-24, 25-39, 40-54 and 55+ years). Measurements Age, quit attempts and success (defined as ≥ 30 days abstinence confirmed, if possible, on a third wave for recent attempts). Findings Older smokers were more likely to smoke daily (χ 2 = 1557.86, r = 0.136, P < 0.001) than younger smokers. Daily smokers were less likely to report quit attempts (38.1 versus 58.2%) and to achieve 30 days of abstinence (22.9 versus 34.3%) than non-daily smokers. Older daily smokers were less likely to make quit attempts [0.61, confidence interval (CI) = 0.54-0.70, P < 0.001], even after controlling for indicators of nicotine dependence, country, sex, education, income, relationship status and household composition, than younger smokers. Younger smokers (< 25) were more likely to succeed for at least 30 days of abstinence, but only when compared with those aged 40-54 (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.68-0.99). However, when controlling for heaviness of smoking the age effect disappeared. Significant interactions with age were found between age and intention when predicting quit attempts, and age and heaviness of smoking when predicting quit success. ConclusionsAn international cohort study indicates that young smokers are more likely to attempt to quit and appear to have similar levels of success in abstaining from smoking compared with older smokers when controlling for dependence. Quit success in all ages is most predicted by lower levels of nicotine dependence.

Factors associated with quit attempt and successful quitting among adults who smoke tobacco in Ethiopia: Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2016

“…In unadjusted models, all age groups were more likely to report quit attempts compared with the oldest age group (>60 years), though only those aged 15–30 years were more likely to have made quit attempt in the adjusted model. The higher prevalence of quit attempts among younger age groups might be related to the lower prevalence of daily smoking among younger people compared to older ones 3 , which is consistent with findings from a four-country survey which showed that younger people are more likely and daily smokers less likely to make quit attempts 25 . All age groups, compared with the oldest age group (>60 years) had an APR of less than 1 in relation to successful quitting, though the association was only significant for the age group 31–44 years.…”

Factors Associated with Quit Intentions among Adult Smokers in South Korea: Findings from the 2020 ITC Korea Survey

“…Sociodemographic factors have been shown to be associated with quit intentions in previous studies [ 14 , 16 , 17 , 21 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 32 ]. However, the first ITC Korea cohort study (2005) on predictors of quit intentions among Korean smokers found that among sociodemographic factors, only educational level and religious affiliation were significant predictors of quit intentions [ 18 ].…”

“…While some studies have shown that older men are more likely to have quit intentions [ 26 ], other studies [ 16 , 25 , 27 ], including our own, show the opposite, where older Korean smokers are less likely to have quit intentions. This may be due to the fact that older smokers have high nicotine dependency, having smoked for a longer period of time, and smoking has become part of their lifestyle, thereby making it less likely for them to have quit intentions [ 32 ]. This finding highlights the importance of cessation interventions targeting younger smokers, since quitting becomes more difficult as they grow older [ 32 ].…”

Effect of socioeconomic status on smoking cessation behavior in selected African countries: Secondary analysis of Global Adult Tobacco Survey data (2014–2018)

“…The current study also found that smokers from younger age groups had a better intention to quit smoking compared to their older counterparts. A recent study based on international tobacco control four-country survey (Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia) reported that older smokers are more likely to be daily smokers and less likely to attempt to quit smoking [ 32 ]. The higher intention to quit among younger age groups could be explained by educational status and better awareness towards health effects of tobacco among younger age groups [ 33 ].…”