If at first you don't succeed: Characterization of smokers with late smoking abstinence onset

Abstract

Most cigarette smoking cessation research has aimed to clarify characteristics associated with initial and sustained abstinence, with less attention paid to predictors of gaining abstinence following an initial failure. The current investigation explored pre-treatment demographic, smoking, and psychiatric characteristics related to gaining abstinence among smokers who failed to attain initial abstinence. Participants were 809 individuals enrolled in extended, 52-week, smoking cessation interventions. Of these, 287 (62.4%) failed to achieve initial abstinence. Gaining abstinence following initial abstinence failure was defined as achieving seven-day point prevalent abstinence at any post-initial abstinence assessment. Compared to those who failed to achieved abstinence during treatment (Treatment Failures), those who gained abstinence (Gainers) were more likely to be abstinent at post-treatment follow-up assessments conducted at weeks 64 (χ2 (1, N=268)=56.3, p<.01) and 104 (χ2 (1, N=231)=37.0, p<.01). With regard to correlates of gaining abstinence, Gainers were more likely to have a live-in partner (χ2(1, N=283)=3.8, p=.05, Cramér’s V = .12), identify as Hispanic (χ2(1, N=281)=7.8, p<.01, Cramér’s V = .17), evidence lower baseline expired breath carbon monoxide (F(1, 284)=5.7, p=.02, η2 = .02), report less cigarette dependence (F(1, 278)=7.1, p<.01, η2=.03), and report past week cannabis use (χ2(1, N=284)=5.6, p=.02, Cramér’s V=.14). A logistic regression model suggested having a live-in partner (OR=5.14, 95% CI=1.09–3.02, p=.02) and identifying as Hispanic (OR=4.93, 95% CI=1.20–18.77, p=.03) increased the odds of gaining abstinence. These findings provide insight into an understudied area, contributing an initial framework toward understanding gaining abstinence following initial failure.

Retrospective analysis of changing characteristics of treatment-seeking smokers: implications for further reducing smoking prevalence

“…The finding that current treatment-seeking smokers are more likely to be unmarried may indicate that those with partners have experienced more quit success, consistent with a large body of evidence suggesting having a partner is associated with less lapse, 42 greater quit resumption 43 and cessation success. 44 In addition, marital status is associated with a decreased risk of depression; 45 therefore, future research in this area should consider the relation between partner status, negative affect and smoking.…”

Patterns of lapses and recoveries during a quit attempt using varenicline and behavioral counseling among smokers with and without HIV.

“…Wileyto et al, 2004). Although a few studies have evaluated individual characteristics associated with smoking cessation behavior patterns (e.g., nicotine dependence levels, having a live-in partner; Leyro, Hendricks, & Hall, 2015), no study that we know of has evaluated these dynamics among smokers with HIV. Given the low rates of responsiveness to smoking cessation treatments and high smoking relapse rates among PWH (Mdodo et al, 2015), a more fine-grained analysis of the patterns of abstinence, lapses, and recoveries could inform the development of population-specific interventions targeting relapse prevention (E. P. Wileyto et al, 2005).…”