Predictors of smoking cessation in 50–66-year-old male Taiwanese smokers: A 7-year national cohort study

The study was aimed to determine the predictors of smoking cessation in 50–66-year-old male Taiwanese smokers. The study analyzed datasets of the “Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan” (SHLSET), a population-based longitudinal cohort study conducted by the Bureau of Health Promotion of Taiwan. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association of demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and health-related variables with changes in smoking status at baseline, or with subsequent changes in smoking status in 50–66-year-old male Taiwanese. Functional impairment was the strongest predictor of quitting smoking for 50–66-year-old Taiwanese men. Other factors including a first hospitalization, emergency visit, or diagnosis of heart disease, quitting drinking, living with a spouse and older age were associated with increased likelihood of quitting smoking. Men with long smoking history, heavy daily cigarette consumption and more formal education were less likely to quit. Results suggest that functional decline is the major cause for quitting smoking for older Taiwanese men. Physical impairment and traumatic diseases that cause physical impairment have the most impact whereas “silent diseases” such as hypertension or diabetes have little impact. These findings should be useful for designing target-specific intervention strategies for older male Taiwanese smokers.