ABSTRACT
Little is known about the most effective strategies to motivate rural smokers to quit. This article describes the personal narratives of current and former smokers living in an economically distressed, rural area of Appalachian Kentucky. Three categories emerged: personal motivators to quit smoking, external influences, pride of place. Capturing personal narratives represents an evidence-based, data-rich strategy for development of culturally sensitive, population-based interventions for rural smokers. Such strategies may be effective in reaching rural smokers and motivating them to quit, thereby reducing tobacco-related disease and premature death in rural, economically distressed communities.
Subject(s)
Motivation , Needs Assessment , Rural Health , Smoking Cessation , Smoking Prevention , Adult , Aged , Evidence-Based Practice , Female , Focus Groups , Humans , Kentucky , Male , Middle Aged , Narration , Smoking/psychology , Smoking Cessation/psychology , United StatesABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine psychosocial and demographic factors associated with readiness to quit smoking among rural current and recent former smokers. This cross-sectional study of 333 rural adults was part of a larger quasi-experimental study testing the effect of a population-based Quit and Win Contest on quitting. Readiness to quit, partner support to quit smoking, stressful life events, depressive symptoms, and demographic characteristics were measured via a phone interview three months after the Contest. Participants with greater positive partner support to quit smoking were more ready to quit. Minority participants were more ready to quit, compared with Caucasian respondents.
Subject(s)
Intention , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Rural Population , Smoking Cessation/psychology , Smoking , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/psychology , Family/psychology , Female , Friends/psychology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Kentucky , Life Change Events , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Psychological , Nursing Methodology Research , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Rural Population/statistics & numerical data , Smoking/psychology , Smoking Cessation/statistics & numerical data , Smoking Prevention , Social Support , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Public support for Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky's smoke-free law, perception of health risks from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), smoking behaviors, and frequency of visiting restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues were assessed pre- and post-law. Two cohorts of noninstitutionalized adults (N = 2,146) were randomly selected and invited to participate in a 10- to 15-min telephone survey. Public support for the smoke-free law increased from 56% to 63%, and respondents were 1.3 times more likely to perceive SHS exposure as a health risk after the law took effect. Although adult smoking and home smoking policy did not change post-law, adults frequented public venues at least as much as before the law. Lexington adults favored the smoke-free legislation despite living in a traditionally protobacco climate. The smoke-free law acted as a public health intervention as it increased perception of risk of heart disease and cancer from SHS exposure.
