FACTORS PREDICTING PARTICIPANT ATTRITION IN A COMMUNITY-BASED, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SMOKING-CESSATION PROGRAM FOR HISPANIC SMOKERS

Factors predicting participant attrition in a community-based, cultura lly specific smoking-cessation program enrolling 93 Hispanic smokers w ere examined. Analysis of univariate predictors showed noncompleters ( n = 18) to have lower incomes, to have expressed greater initial confi dence in their ability to stop smoking, and to have perceived themselv es to be in poorer general health and poorer health in relation to pee rs, than completers. Noncompleters were also more likely to have repor ted cardiovascular problems. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that confidence in stopping smoking, health compared with that of peers, and reported cardiovascular problems contributed significan tly to prediction while controlling for other significant univariate p redictors. The results are discussed in terms of factors that might mi tigate premature termination in community-based smoking-cessation inte rventions targeting Hispanic smokers.