Individual-level predictors of cessation behaviours among participants in the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey

Abstract

Background:The International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey (ITC-4) is a prospective cohort study designed to evaluate the psychosocial and behavioural impact of national-level tobacco control policies enacted in the Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA. Wave 1 of ITC-4 survey was conducted between October 2002 and December 2002. Wave 2 survey was conducted between May 2003 and August 2003.Objective:To test for individual-level predictors of smoking cessation behaviours (that is, quit attempts and smoking cessation) among cigarette smokers in the ITC Four Country Study measured between Wave 1 and Wave 2. This set of predictors will serve as the base for evaluating the added effect of tobacco control policies and other factors.Methods:Respondents included in this study are 6682 adult current smokers in the Wave 1 main survey who completed the Wave 2 follow-up (1665 were in Canada, 1329 were in the USA, 1837 were in the UK and 1851 were in Australia).Results:Factors predictive of making a quit attempt included intention to quit, making a quit attempt in the previous year, longer duration of past quit attempts, less nicotine dependence, more negative attitudes about smoking, and younger age. Lower levels of nicotine dependence were the main factor that predicted future cessation among those that made a quit attempt.Conclusion:Intention to quit and other cognitive variables were associated with quit attempts, but not cessation. Behavioural variables related to task difficulty, including measures of dependence, predicted both making attempts and their success. Predictors of making quit attempts and cessation were similar for each of the four countries, but there were some differences in predictors of success.

Predictors of smoking cessation among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia Survey

“…There is now substantial evidence that the predictors of making quit attempts differ from those that predict outcomes among those who try (Hyland et al, 2006). Sociodemographic predictors of making attempts include being young (Hyland et al, 2006;Vanasse, Niyonsenga, & Courteau, 2004), male gender (Nides et al, 1995), White race (e.g., White American vs. minority American; Tucker, Ellickson, Orlando, & Klein, 2005), and well educated (Hatziandreu et al, 1990).…”

“…Overall, successful cessation in the West has been associated with sociodemographic variables: older age (Hymowitz et al, 1997;Lee & Kahende, 2007;Osler & Prescott, 1998), male gender (Hymowitz et al;Osler, Prescott, Godtfredsen, Hein, & Schnohr, 1999), White race/majority race (Hatziandreu et al, 1990), higher education (Broms, Silventoinen, Lahelma, Koskenvuo, & Kaprio, 2004), and higher income (Pisinger, Vestbo, Borch-Johnsen, & Jorgensen, 2005). Among smokingrelated variables, predictors of successful quitting include lower level of nicotine dependence (Godtfredsen, Prescott, Osler, & Vestbo, 2001;Hyland et al, 2006;Pisinger et al;Siahpush, Borland, & Scollo, 2003;West et al, 2001), longer length of past quit attempt (Honda, 2005;Zhu, Sun, Billings, Choi, & Malarcher, 1999), higher levels of self-efficacy (Borland, Owen, Hill, & Schofield, 1991;Dijkstra, de Vries, & Bakker, 1996), stronger desire to quit (Hymowitz et al;Pisinger et al;Siahpush et al, 2003), and absence of other smokers in the household (Hymowitz et al; Osler & Prescott).…”

“…In addition, lower level of dependence (Hyland et al, 2004(Hyland et al, , 2006; as for all cases), rules against smoking at homes (Lee & Kahende), having fewer smoking friends (Rose, Chassin, Presson, & Sherman, 1996), and having social supports for quitting (Borland et al, 1991) have all been shown to be predictive. Differences in predictors between making an attempt and staying quit are age (younger age predicts trying and older age staying quit), gender, and measures of intention and/or motivation, the latter two seem more important for making attempts.…”

“…Sociodemographic predictors of making attempts include being young (Hyland et al, 2006;Vanasse, Niyonsenga, & Courteau, 2004), male gender (Nides et al, 1995), White race (e.g., White American vs. minority American; Tucker, Ellickson, Orlando, & Klein, 2005), and well educated (Hatziandreu et al, 1990). Smoking-related predictors of making attempts include level of nicotine dependence (Clark, Kviz, Crittenden, & Warnecke, 1998;Hyland et al, 2006;Vanasse et al), measures of intention/motivation (Burt & Peterson, 1998;Clark et al;Hyland et al, 2006), past quit attempts (Burt & Peterson;Hyland et al, 2006), self-efficacy (Woodruff, Conway, & Edwards, 2008), and concern for health effects caused by smoking (Hyland et al, 2006;West, McEwen, Bolling, & Owen, 2001). …”

“…Differences in predictors between making an attempt and staying quit are age (younger age predicts trying and older age staying quit), gender, and measures of intention and/or motivation, the latter two seem more important for making attempts. In a recent study from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey, Hyland et al (2006) examined individuallevel predictors of making serious quit attempts and smoking cessation among cigarette smokers in four developed countries (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and found that intention to quit, other measures of motivation to quit, and a history of past quit attempts were strongly associated with making a serious quit attempt but not independently associated with succeeding in that attempt; indeed, for the motivational measures, the association reversed. This pattern has been found elsewhere, but the reversal has not always been significant (Borland et al, 1991;West et al, 2001).…”