The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #36237

Grace Xueqin Ma, PhD, CHES¹, Yin Tan, MD, MPH, MSOH², Jamil Toubbeh¹, X. Su², and Steven E. Shive, PhD, MPH³. (1) Department of Health Studies, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, PO Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122, 215-204-5108, xma00000@nimbus.temple.edu, (2) Health Studies, Temple University, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122, (3) Health and Community Services, California State University, Chico, 400 W. First St., Chico, CA 95929-0505

The Transtheoretical Model of Change was used to assess the impact of demographic and acculturation on changes in smoking behavior and readiness to quit smoking among Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian American subgroups. Current smokers were residents of the Delaware Valley region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the metropolitan city of Philadelphia. Extent of readiness was based on three stages of the theoretical model: precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation. A stratified-cluster proportional sampling technique was used in the study. Asian Americans (n=1400) were recruited from 26 randomly selected community organization clusters. A total of 1141 completed the surveys (83%). Analysis included Pearson c2 test and multivariate analysis. age, time living in the U.S., education and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with smoking behavior change, or readiness to quit, placing a subset of the sample in either the contemplation or the preparation stage of change. Time lived in the U.S. was a significant predictor of change. Age and education were negatively associated with smoking behavior change, hence unreliable predictors of change. Contrary to belief, people who were older, more educated and had lived shorter periods of time in the U.S. were found to be less eager to change smoking behavior, precontemplation stage. Chinese had the highest rate among those who indicated a lack of desire to quit smoking, falling in the precontemplation stage. The study showed the importance of linking the stages of change to the design of viable prevention, intervention and cessation smoking programs for Asian Americans.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to list the 3 stages of change and number of Asian American smokers in each stage.
• At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to describe the implications of the number in each stage of change with prevention and intervention programs.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
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