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

Abstract #116639

Donna Vallone, PhD, Ella Watson-Stryker, BA, Molly Green, MPH, and James Xiao, MS. Director of Research & Evaluation, American Legacy Foundation, 2030 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, (202)454-5555, dvallone@americanlegacy.org

Methods: Data for current smoking prevalence among adults in the US were analyzed using the 2001-2002 Current Population Survey - Tobacco Use Supplement (CPS-TUS). A cross-sectional analysis of more than 57,000 US adults (³18 yrs old) was conducted using data from the September 2001 and November 2001 CPS, to determine the proportion who use a computer, the Internet, and concurrently smoke and use a computer or the Internet. Prevalence rates were stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, income, and geographic region. Results: Twenty percent (20.5%) of adults in the US currently smoke. Eight-one percent (81.1%) of adults use a computer at home and 54.2% use the Internet - 44.4% of adults use the Internet at home and 33.6% use the Internet outside the home. Eighty-two percent (82.0%) of current smokers use a computer at home. Among current smokers, 53.8% use the Internet - 43.5% of current smokers use the Internet at home and 33.6% use the Internet outside the home. There are no differences in computer or Internet use by smoking status. However, across groups, socioeconomic differences arise: Whites and Asians and those with higher levels of education and income are more likely to use the Internet than other racial/ethnic groups and those of lower levels of education and income. Conclusions: Although there are no differences in computer or Internet use by smoking status, there are differences by demographics. This information may be useful for informing adult cessation programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to describe the current prevalence of computer and Internet use, current smoking, and the intersection of these behaviors among adults in the United States.

Keywords: Internet,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.