Socioeconomic position and abrupt versus gradual method of quitting smoking: findings from the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Our aim was to investigate the association between socioeconomic position (income and education) and abrupt versus gradual method of smoking cessation. METHODS: The analysis used data (n = 5,629) from Waves 1 through 6 (2002-2008) of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey, a prospective study of a cohort of smokers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equations showed that higher income (p < .001) and higher education (p = .011) were associated with a higher probability of abrupt versus gradual quitting. The odds of adopting abrupt versus gradual quitting were about 40%..