Research

Better-educated smokers more likely to quit after seeing ads
Anti-smoking television advertisements generally appear to be more effective in getting better-educated smokers to attempt cessation, according to the results of a recent study.  Of the smokers who recalled seeing the anti-smoking advertisements from the study, 65% of college educated smokers later attempted to quit, compared to only 30% of participants with a high school education or less.  However, smokers at all educational levels were equally affected by advertisements that focused specifically on the dangers of secondhand smoke.  Advertisements did not seem to have a differential effect on long-term cessation between educational groups, as researchers did not find a difference in quit rates or recall of the advertisements after one year.  For more information on the results of this study, click here. The article is published in the May 2008 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Highest smoking rates
According to a 2007 national study by the Centers for Disease Control, smoking rates are 50% higher among people with disabilities than the general population.  This high prevalence of smoking, combined with limited mobility and access to medical care, puts people with disabilities at great risk for chronic diseases and other health problems.  With an estimated 50 million people living with a disability, addressing smoking and providing cessation treatment more adequately could have a great positive impact on healthcare costs and productivity for people with disabilities. Click here for more information.

Study finds racial disparities in smoking cessation treatment
New research from a national study by the American Cancer Society found that black and Hispanic smokers are less likely than whites to receive and use smoking cessation counseling and treatments.  Those with less access to general healthcare are also less likely to receive cessation counseling.  Fortunately, more smokers overall are getting advice to quit from their doctors.  Because smoking rates are considerably higher among minorities, the American Cancer Society recommends that “consistent application of proven tobacco cessation interventions” should be applied.  Click here to learn more.  The research article was published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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International

Anti-smoking message not reaching Aborigines: report
Research in Australia has shown that anti-smoking programs have decreased the smoking rate in the general population, yet the country’s indigenous Aboriginal population has not benefited from anti-smoking campaigns.  The smoking rate among Aboriginals has not changed significantly since the 1970s, and the rate is double Australia’s national smoking rate.  According to one of the researchers, socioeconomic inequality appears to be the main cause for the disparity because the study found that among indigenous people, the poorest, least educated, and unemployed were the most likely to be smokers. Click here to learn more, or view the abstract here in the April issue of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

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