MISCLASSIFICATION OF SMOKING STATUS AMONG SOUTHEAST-ASIAN ADULT IMMIGRANTS

A total of 1,403 Southeast Asian adult immigrant males (n = 783) and f emales (n = 620) from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam who currently reside d in Central Ohio were interviewed to determine the self-reported smok ing prevalence among them, and underwent biochemical confirmation of t heir smoking status. Variables having to do with the subjects' sociode mography, acculturation, and smoking history that were related to the misclassification of smoking status were also investigated. Self-repor ted current smoking rates were 40.9% and 5.6% for males and females, r espectively. After verification of the subjects' smoking status by sal iva cotinine assay (smoker status greater than or equal to 14 ng/ml), the rates of smoking were found to be greater, at 43.7% for males and 14.8% for females. Years of education, self-reported smoking status, c ountry of origin, and method of healthcare payment were significant pr edictors of misclassification. These findings suggest that the prevale nce of smoking is higher among Southeast Asian adult females than has been previously reported. Variables that predict misclassification wit h regard to smoking status are presented, and their implications for c linicians and researchers are discussed.