A cross-sectional study of the relationship of proximal smoking environments and cessation history, plans, and self-efficacy among low-income smokers.

Abstract

Introduction: Proximal environments could facilitate smoking cessation among low-income smokers by making cessation appealing to strive for and tenable.

Aims: We sought to examine how home smoking rules and proximal environmental factors such as other household members' and peers' smoking behaviors and attitudes related to low-income smokers' past quit attempts, readiness, and self-efficacy to quit.

Methods: This analysis used data from Offering Proactive Treatment Intervention (OPT-IN) (randomized control trial of proactive tobacco cessation outreach) baseline survey, which was completed by 2,406 participants in 2011/12. We tested the associations between predictors (home smoking rules and proximal environmental factors) and outcomes (past-year quit attempts, readiness to quit, and quitting self-efficacy).

Results: Smokers who lived in homes with more restrictive household smoking rules, and/or reported having 'important others' who would be supportive of their quitting, were more likely to report having made a quit attempt in the past year, had greater readiness to quit, and greater self-efficacy related to quitting.

Conclusions: Adjustments to proximal environments, including strengthening household smoking rules, might encourage cessation even if other household members are smokers.