204217 Delivering smoking cessation treatment to individuals with HIV/AIDS: Factors associated with follow-up completion

Monday, November 9, 2009

Rachel M. Marks, BA , Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Damon J. Vidrine, DrPH , Department of Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Roberto C. Arduino, MD , Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas School of Medicine, Houston, TX
Ellen R. Gritz, PhD , Department of Behavioral Science, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Research indicates the prevalence of smoking is significantly higher in HIV+ populations compared to the general population. Smoking exacerbates HIV/AIDS-related illnesses and impairs treatment response. Effective smoking cessation interventions for this population must address barriers to treatment completion. This abstract explores the relationships between demographic, behavioral and psychosocial variables and 3-month follow-up completion in a low-income, multiethnic, HIV+ population enrolled in a smoking cessation study. Socio-demographic variables including age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, employment, and HIV exposure were considered. Behavioral variables included alcohol use, drug use, and smoking history. Distress, social functioning and self-efficacy were also considered. Logistic regression analyses (unadjusted and multivariate) were used to explore the variables of interest. The sample (n=285) was ethnically diverse (14.0% white, 72.6% Black, and 11.2% Hispanic). Average (SD) age at enrollment was 44.7 (7.7). The majority of participants were male (73%); reported ≤ a high school education (76.8%); were unemployed due to health reasons (64.9%); and were single (78.6%). Heterosexual transmission was the most common route of HIV exposure (42.6%). Participants began smoking at an average (SD) age of 18.0 (6.8) and reported smoking 18.7 (11.4) cigarettes/day. Finally, 83.5% reported smoking their first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking. Results from the regression analyses indicated only age had a marginally significant association with follow-up completion (OR= 1.03, 95% CI; 1.0-1.1). Variables often associated with treatment adherence and completion were not significantly associated with follow-up in this sample. Findings suggest that interventions can be designed to ensure individuals are not systematically lost-to-follow-up.

Learning Objectives:
Identify variables associated with return for follow-up completion in an HIV+ sample enrolled in smoking cessation study.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold a bachelors in Liberal Arts and I am currently a 2nd year student at the UT School of Public Health working on a Master's in Public Health. I am also a research coordinator on a smoking cessation intervention with HIV+ population at the U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center where I have worked for 2+ years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.