Correlates of smoking cessation among Filipino-American men

Although a recent analysis of the California Health Interview Survey has shown that Filipino-American men have a higher smoking prevalence rate than Whites, Hispanics, Chinese Americans, and African Americans, smoking cessation efforts are lacking for this population. The objectives of this analysis are to identify reasons to quit smoking and to identify demographic, cognitive, social, and environmental factors associated with successful smoking cessation among Filipino-American men. Working with several Filipino community based organizations and associations, we interviewed 318 Filipino-American men (110 current, 108 former, and 100 never smokers) aged 40 to 75 years in Los Angeles County from May 2004 to May 2005. This analysis includes current smokers who have tried to quit smoking (N=81) and former smokers who have abstained from smoking for at least a year (N=105). The two leading reasons to quit smoking among current and former smokers were health concerns and the fact that someone they knew got sick or died due to smoking. Successful quitting was associated with fewer positive smoking beliefs (including the role of smoking in becoming a man and as a social exchange; OR=0.66) and having fewer smoking friends (OR=0.35). Former smokers were more likely than current smokers to live in a household where smoking was completely prohibited (OR=3.68). Study findings suggest that smoking cessation interventions for Filipino-American men should address their beliefs on smoking, provide them an opportunity to build new friendships with non-smokers, and encouraging their household members to enforce a strict smoking policy in their home.