CHARACTERISTICS OF SMOKERS WHO ATTEMPT TO QUIT AND OF THOSE WHO RECENTLY SUCCEEDED

Although a high percentage of smokers attempt to quit each year, succe ss rates are low. Thus, public health strategies must not only convinc e some smokers to attempt cessation, but also improve the success rate among other smokers already motivated to quit. Specific cessation str ategies may be required for smokers in these two groups. This study co mpares sociodemographic and health behavior characteristics of smokers who have and have not attempted to quit and of those who recently suc ceeded. To determine whether these characteristics vary for men and wo men, we stratified analyses on gender. Data were obtained from random sample health surveys conducted 1981-1982 and 1983-1984 in two New Eng land communities. Analyses include data on 2,086 respondents who repor ted smoking cigarettes in the previous year. Men and women were equall y likely both to attempt cessation and to quit. Except for an inverse association with age, attempting to quit was not associated with socio demographic variables. In men and women, attempts were associated with encouraging others to quit and attempting to increase exercise. Succe ssful cessation attempts were associated with not living with a smoker in women; marital status, attempted weight loss, and increased age in men; and with efforts to increase exercise in both men and women. The se characteristics could be useful in targeting smokers who attempt to quit, but fail. Improving the success rate in this group could greatl y reduce smoking prevalence in the community.