W. Bjornson et al., GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SMOKING CESSATION AFTER 3 YEARS IN THE LUNG HEALTH STUDY, American journal of public health, 85(2), 1995, pp. 223-230
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.