READINESS TO CHANGE SMOKING-BEHAVIOR IN A COMMUNITY-HEALTH CENTER POPULATION

This study examines predictors of readiness to change smoking behavior in a sample of smokers who receive care at a community health center that serves a predominantly low income African American population. Pr ior to initiating interventions we conducted a telephone survey with a random sample of 1318 adult users who had visited the center in the l ast 18 months; 379 (28.8%) were current smokers (40.3% of males, 23.9% of females, 42.7% of Whites, and 25.3%, of African Americans). Multip le logistic regression analysis showed nine factors significantly asso ciated with readiness to change smoking behavior: male gender; a previ ous quit attempt; a perception of risk of lung cancer from smoking; gr eater desire to quit smoking; a perception that smoking bothers others ; doctor advice to stop smoking at last health visit; records kept for scheduling doctor appointments; thinking that losing a pleasure would not be a problem if quit smoking; and poorer self-reported health sta tus. These findings provide direction for developing interventions for similar low income, high risk populations. The results indicate that it may be useful to heighten awareness of the risks of smoking and to assure that smokers receive clear quit smoking messages from their pro viders. Women need special attention since they are less ready to quit than men.