Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109839

Diana Levengood, BA, Francine Axler, MPH, Kristin Minot, MS, and Lynne Kotranski, PhD. Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, (215) 731-2039, dianal@phmc.org

This presentation will analyze the prevalence and characteristics of current smokers in a large urban area as well as examine smoking cessation efforts of both current and former smokers. This is especially important in light of the proposed smoking ban for the city of Philadelphia, which was re-introduced to city council in February of 2005.

The data in this presentation are taken from PHMC's 2004 Household Health Survey, a telephone survey conducted in 10,000 households in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Preliminary data reveal that 19.5% of adults in Philadelphia currently smoke every day, while an additional 6.3% of adults smoke some days. Among these current smokers, approximately six out of ten report that they have tried to quit smoking within the past year (57.8%). In addition, nearly 249,000 adults in Philadelphia have successfully quit smoking and are now former smokers, representing 22.4% of the adult population in the city. In the past year alone, more than 28,000 adults in Philadelphia quit smoking.

This presentation will investigate the differences between adults who have successfully quit smoking, specifically those who have quit within the past year, and current smokers who are trying to quit. The analysis will include demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of both current and former smokers in Philadelphia. Quit methods and motivations for smoking cessation, including marital status, presence of children, education level, and other subgroup characteristics, will also be explored. These data are critical in helping to plan smoking cessation programs in urban areas across the country.

Learning Objectives: