TY - JOUR
T1 - Smoking characteristics of a homeless population
AU - Okuyemi, Kola
AU - Nazir, Niaman
AU - Ahluwalia, Jasjit S.
AU - Butler, James
AU - Resnicow, Ken
PY - 2002/1/1
Y1 - 2002/1/1
N2 - When addressing tobacco control and smoking cessation measures, the homeless have been perceived as a difficult to reach population. The purpose of this study was to examine the smoking characteristics of a homeless population. Data were derived from a larger study that examined smoking among inner-city residents. Homeless smokers (n = 107) were compared to nonhomeless smokers (n = 491) on sociodemographics, smoking characteristics, motivation to quit, and smoking cessation experiences. Results showed that homeless smokers were more likely to be white, smoke more cigarettes per day, initiate smoking at a younger age, and have a longer smoking history. Knowledge about the risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting was equally high in both groups. Homeless smokers were less likely to be preparing to quit smoking compared to nonhomeless smokers. These factors place homeless smokers at increased risk of tobacco-related diseases. Programs are needed to design and test effective cessation interventions for homeless smokers.
AB - When addressing tobacco control and smoking cessation measures, the homeless have been perceived as a difficult to reach population. The purpose of this study was to examine the smoking characteristics of a homeless population. Data were derived from a larger study that examined smoking among inner-city residents. Homeless smokers (n = 107) were compared to nonhomeless smokers (n = 491) on sociodemographics, smoking characteristics, motivation to quit, and smoking cessation experiences. Results showed that homeless smokers were more likely to be white, smoke more cigarettes per day, initiate smoking at a younger age, and have a longer smoking history. Knowledge about the risks of smoking and the benefits of quitting was equally high in both groups. Homeless smokers were less likely to be preparing to quit smoking compared to nonhomeless smokers. These factors place homeless smokers at increased risk of tobacco-related diseases. Programs are needed to design and test effective cessation interventions for homeless smokers.
KW - Homeless
KW - Smoking cessation
KW - Smoking characteristics
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1021198000377
DO - 10.1023/A:1021198000377
M3 - Article
C2 - 12438835
AN - SCOPUS:0036886428
VL - 23
SP - 223
EP - 231
JO - Substance Abuse
JF - Substance Abuse
SN - 0889-7077
IS - 4
ER -