TY - JOUR
T1 - Stages of change and other factors in 'light' cigarette smokers
AU - Kelbsch, Julia
AU - Meyer, Christian
AU - Rumpf, Hans Jürgen
AU - John, Ulrich
AU - Hapke, Ulfert
N1 - Funding Information:
This study is part of the German research network ‘Analytical Epidemiology of Substance Abuse (ANEPSA)’. Factors related to the use and abuse of psychoactive substances are analysed by different research groups in the context of several longitudinal studies. The Research network is funded in the context of the programme ‘Biological and psycho-social factors of drug abuse and dependence’ by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Technology. Data described in this paper is part of the project ‘Transitions in Alcohol Consumption and Smoking (TACOS)’, part 1: ‘Drug Use in the Adult General Population in a Northern German City and Surrounding Communities’, grant no.: 01 EB 9406 and part 3: ‘Stages of change and utilization of care in persons with risk consumption, abuse or dependence of tobacco or alcohol’ grant no.: 01 EB 9801/8; principal investigators: Professor Dr John (University of Greifswald), Professor Dr Dilling (Medical University of Lübeck).
Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - Background: It has become well known that 'light' cigarettes are deceiving in fostering the attitude that they are 'safer' or less health damaging than regular cigarettes. The goal of this study is to analyse the smoking of 'light' cigarettes according to the progress over the stages of change to stop or reduce smoking. Methods: A sample representing the genera I population of a northern German region aged 18 to 64 was drawn (T1, N = 4075). 1520 smokers of 'light' and regular cigarettes were identified by a face-to-face interview and reassessed longitudinally by questionnaire 30 months later (T2, n = 913). Results: At baseline smokers of 'light' cigarettes, in particular males, were more likely to be contemplators or preparators in terms of smoking cessation. Those who smoked 'light' cigarettes were more likely to have made a quit attempt, were more likely to be female, at younger age, never married, higher educated and less nicotine dependent compared to smokers of regular cigarettes. The follow-up data shows that males who smoked 'light' before or changed to 'light' cigarettes were more likely to contemplate or to prepare quitting, had more often tried a quit attempt and stopped smoking more often. Conclusion: The results suggest that 'light' cigarettes especially by males are used for reasons of reducing or quitting smoking. It is concluded that as such they deceive the smoker and potentially hinder the process of reducing or quitting.
AB - Background: It has become well known that 'light' cigarettes are deceiving in fostering the attitude that they are 'safer' or less health damaging than regular cigarettes. The goal of this study is to analyse the smoking of 'light' cigarettes according to the progress over the stages of change to stop or reduce smoking. Methods: A sample representing the genera I population of a northern German region aged 18 to 64 was drawn (T1, N = 4075). 1520 smokers of 'light' and regular cigarettes were identified by a face-to-face interview and reassessed longitudinally by questionnaire 30 months later (T2, n = 913). Results: At baseline smokers of 'light' cigarettes, in particular males, were more likely to be contemplators or preparators in terms of smoking cessation. Those who smoked 'light' cigarettes were more likely to have made a quit attempt, were more likely to be female, at younger age, never married, higher educated and less nicotine dependent compared to smokers of regular cigarettes. The follow-up data shows that males who smoked 'light' before or changed to 'light' cigarettes were more likely to contemplate or to prepare quitting, had more often tried a quit attempt and stopped smoking more often. Conclusion: The results suggest that 'light' cigarettes especially by males are used for reasons of reducing or quitting smoking. It is concluded that as such they deceive the smoker and potentially hinder the process of reducing or quitting.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20644450799&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/cki111
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/cki111
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 15941759
AN - SCOPUS:20644450799
SN - 1101-1262
VL - 15
SP - 146
EP - 151
JO - European Journal of Public Health
JF - European Journal of Public Health
IS - 2
ER -