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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Grace X. Ma, PhD¹, Yin Tan, MD², Jamil I. Toubbeh, PhD², and Carolyn Fang, PhD³. (1) Department of Public Health; Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122, 215-787-5434, grace.ma@temple.edu, (2) Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122, (3) Division of Population Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 510 Township Line Road, 3rd Floor, Cheltenham, PA 19012

Problem/Objective: Research has established that Vietnamese Americans have higher smoking rates than other Asian ethnic groups and the general population (CDC, 1992; Ma et al., 2002; Ma, Chu, Jackson, & Tsou, 2003). Studies that probe psychosocial aspects of tobacco use among Vietnamese American smokers are wanting. This article will report baseline findings on risk perception, self-efficacy, and tobacco dependence among Vietnamese smokers and will examine potential associations between these psychosocial variables and key demographic variables. Methods: One hundred and two adult Vietnamese American smokers completed a baseline survey. Data on demographic background, smoking history, risk perception, self-efficacy, and tobacco dependence were gathered and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample with respect to psychosocial variables and demographic information. Results: Analysis of the baseline data revealed a relationship between the scores of certain psychosocial measures and particular demographic variables. Particularly, smoker type was linked to self-efficacy in quitting smoking. Heavy smokers expressed lower levels of self-efficacy in quitting than did medium smokers and light smokers. Conclusion: The findings suggest that enhancing self-efficacy among medium and heavy smokers may be one approach for improving the effectiveness of smoking cessation efforts that target Vietnamese smokers. Focusing on key psychosocial variables relevant to smoking behaviors provides insight on cessation messages, techniques, and foci that would be most effective in the delivery of smoking cessation programs for the Vietnamese American community.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, observers will have a greater knowledge of the associations between specific psychosocial and demographic variables that are related to smoking among a sample of Vietnamese Americans.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered