Dual use of tobacco (smoking cigarette and using smokeless tobacco) and intention to quit smoking among adult smokers: Results from Tobacco Use Supplement to Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) 2006/2007

Background: Limited studies exist that have examined the effect of concomitant use of smokeless and cigarette form of tobacco on smoking and intention to quit smoking. The objective of this study was to examine the association of dual use of tobacco (smoking cigarette and using smokeless tobacco) with intention to quit smoking among current adult smokers in the US.

Methods: The study used a sample of current smokers over 18 years (n=40,328) from the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) in the US. Logistic regressions were conducted to estimate the association of intention to quit smoking with dual use of tobacco.

Results: In bivariate analysis dual users were 20% less likely to have intention to quit smoking than those who were only cigarette smokers (OR 0.80; 95% CI: 0.74-0.87). After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, equivalized income, education, and occupation dual users were still significantly less likely to quit smoking than those who were only cigarette smokers (OR 0.81; 95% CI: 0.74-0.89). After addition of self efficacy to quit in the previous multivariate model intention to quit smoking increased (OR 0.92; 95% CI: 0.83-1.02) but there was no significant association between dual use of tobacco and intention to quit smoking (p=0.131).

Conclusions: The findings of this study are expected to better inform the tobacco control and public health communities about the association of dual use of tobacco with intention to quit smoking and adopt appropriate strategy to reduce harm of cigarette smoking among US adults.