GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SMOKING CESSATION AFTER 3 YEARS IN THE LUNG HEALTH STUDY

Objectives. An analysis of gender differences in smoking cessation was conducted among 3923 participants in the Special Intervention group o f the Lung Health Study. This report focuses on gender differences in sustained quit rates at 12 and 36 months. Methods. Special Interventio n. participants were offered a 12-session, 12-week smoking cessation p rogram using nicotine gum and were followed for 3 years. Self-reported smoking status was validated with carbon monoxide and salivary cotini ne. Results Men had higher sustained quit rates at 12 and 36 months; g ender differences were found in baseline variables that also predicted sustained abstinence; and controlling for selected baseline variables reduced the association between gen der and sustained abstinence. Whe n other variables were controlled, gender predicted sustained abstinen ce at 36 months (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.04, 1.48) but not 12 months (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.92, 1.27), refle cting more late relapse among women. Conclusions. Demographics and smo king history were more important than gender per se in sustained smoki ng cessation in the Lung Health Study, Programs tailoring smoking cess ation by gender need to include coping skills for problems associated with less education and social support and for improving persistence w ith quit attempts.