Predictors and reasons for quitting smoking in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Issue addressed: National smoking prevalence is decreasing among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking prevalence remains higher than in nonremote areas and is not improving. 

Methods: We analysed data from 539 daily and weekly smokers from remote areas who completed baseline surveys at either Wave 1 (April 2012-October 2013) or Wave 2 (August 2013-August 2014), including 157 from Wave 1 who also completed Wave 2, from the Talking About The Smokes project. We assessed associations between baseline predictor measures and having made any quit attempt in the past year and, among those who did, having sustained the last quit attempt for one month or more. 

Results: More smokers had made a quit attempt if they were younger or reported being unable to buy essentials due to money spent on smokes, being more stressed, having several pro-quitting motivations and attitudes, having an effective smoke-free home, or being encouraged to quit by a health professional or by family/friends. Of these, more had sustained their last quit attempt for one month or more if they reported being more socially advantaged, no smoking-induced deprivation, being less dependent, chewing pituri or an having effective smoke-free home. 

Conclusions: Health staff should consider the quite different factors associated with starting and then sustaining a quit attempt. 

So what?: Our findings support continued attention in remote areas on smoke-free homes and health staff providing regular encouragement to all smokers to quit and more use of smokers' friends and family for support.