Characterising the Smoking Status and Quit Smoking Behaviour of Aboriginal Health Workers in South Australia

Abstract

The study objectives were to characterise the smoking status and quit smoking behaviour of Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) in South Australia (SA), Australia; and identify the psychosocial, socio-demographic, and household smoking characteristics that distinguish smokers from quitters and never smokers. A self-reported cross-sectional survey was completed by AHWs in SA. Non-parametric statistics were used for inferential analyses. Eighty-five AHWs completed surveys representing a response rate of 63.0%. The prevalence of current smokers was 50.6%. Non-smokers (49.5%) included quitters (22.4%) and never smokers (27.1%). Smoking status did not differ by gender or geographic location. Of current smokers, 69.0% demonstrated a readiness to quit and 50.0% had made at least one quit attempt in the last 12 months. Compared to quitters and never smokers, current smokers expressed lower emotional wellbeing, and three times as many resided with another smoker. Quitters had the highest levels of perceived social support and part-time employment. A high proportion of AHWs who smoke desire, and are ready to quit. Individual, social and household factors differentiated smokers from non-smokers and quitters. Social support, and relationships and structures that favour social support, are implicated as necessary to enable AHWs who smoke to act on their desire to quit smoking.

Smoking among a national sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health service staff

“…Our national estimate of staff smoking prevalence was at the lower end of previous smaller local and regional studies, and much lower than the largest previous study (51%, n = 85), which also reported the highest (but still a modest) response rate of 63% 3 , 12 . However, these studies concentrated on AHWs (variously defined) rather than all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.…”

Smoking behaviour among male students in a Saudi University

“…Although recognition and treatment of mental health disorders have made marked progress in Saudi Arabia (27), some Saudis release stress and anxiety through tobacco use (18). Our study confirmed that psychological problems such as depression play a significant role in changes in smoking behaviour, which is consistent with findings from western and East Asian countries (28)(29)(30)(31). In contrast to the above findings, in the present study, Saudi male university students smoked to improve their psychological wellbeing, such as gaining pride or confidence, while not having any indications of psychological distress.…”

An ecological model of drug and alcohol use and related harms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A systematic review of the literature

“…Overall, health prioritisation and knowledge of health effects were protective against substance use. Enjoying smoking was identified as a risk factor for continued smoking ( Johnston and Thomas, 2008 , Maksimovic et al, 2013 , Gamarania et al, 1998 ), but prioritising health was consistently reported to protect against tobacco and cannabis use ( Brown et al, 2016 , Thomas et al, 2008 , Bond et al, 2012 , Maksimovic et al, 2013 , Jacups and Rogerson, 2015 , Wood et al, 2008 ). Qualitative studies reported that health prioritisation occurred after a personal health crisis, which led to a positive life transition encouraging substance cessation ( Bond et al, 2012 , Wood et al, 2008 ).…”

“…Qualitative studies reported that health prioritisation occurred after a personal health crisis, which led to a positive life transition encouraging substance cessation ( Bond et al, 2012 , Wood et al, 2008 ). Pregnancy was similarly found to motivate substance cessation ( Gould et al, 2017 , Maksimovic et al, 2013 ). One qualitative study found individuals were more likely to abstain or cease tobacco use if they gained knowledge of the adverse health effects of smoking ( Gamarania et al, 1998 ).…”