Predictors of quit attempts and successful quit attempts in a nationally representative sample of smokers

Although most current smokers report that they would like to quit, most quit attempts fail suggesting that predictors of quitting attempts may differ from those of successful attempts. We examined sociodemographic and clinical predictors of quit attempts and successful quit attempts in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Data was collected in 2001–2002 (Wave 1) and 2004–2005 (Wave 2). Almost 40% of individuals who had not previously attempted to quit, tried to quit over the next three years; only 4.6% of those who tried had succeeded at the time of the evaluation. Hispanics, Asians, individuals with high income, and those with college education were less likely to attempt to quit, whereas those with daily nicotine use, younger age at first use and most symptoms of dependence were more likely to do so. Having an educational level below high school and older age at first nicotine use were predictors of successful quitting. Despite relatively high rates of quit attempts, rates of success are extremely low, indicating a gap between the public health need of decreasing tobacco use, and existing means to achieve it. Although there is a need to encourage people to quit tobacco, there may be an equally large need to develop more effective interventions that increase the rate of successful quit attempts.

► We studied sociodemographic and clinical predictors of quit attempts.
► 40% of those with no previous attempts tried to quit over the next 3 years.
► 4.6% of those who previously tried to quit succeeded at the time of evaluation.
► Despite relatively high rates of quit attempts, rates of success are extremely low.