Intention to Quit and Polytobacco Use Among College Student Smokers

Background. Approximately 14.1% of college students are cigarette smokers. College students are also at increased risk for non-cigarette tobacco product use. Little is known about polytobacco use and quitting among college students. This study examined the association of intention to quit smoking cigarettes and multiple tobacco use variables. We hypothesized that polytobacco users would have less intention to quit smoking compared to cigarette-only users.

Methods.  The study was part of a larger, quasi-experimental study evaluating the impact of an on-campus TIPS ad campaign on tobacco use and attitudes. This analysis included 133 current college student cigarette smokers. Cigarettes per day (CPD), polytobacco use status, frequency of use, intention to quit smoking, and demographics were measured. Multivariate logistic regression assessed predictors of intention to quit smoking cigarettes.

Results. Polytobacco-using college students were as likely as cigarette-only users to intend to quit. Students who smoked more than 10 CPD were 72% less likely to indicate intention to quit, compared to those who smoked at most 10 CPD (OR=0.28, p=.017). Females were 160% more likely to report intention to quit smoking, compared to males, controlling for all other variables in the model (OR=2.60, p=.040). Academic status and frequency of tobacco use were not related to intention to quit smoking.

Conclusions. Inconsistent with other studies, college student polyusers in this sample were as likely as cigarettes smokers to intend to quit. Campus tobacco treatment services need to target both polyusers and cigarette-only users, especially those who smoke less than 10 CPD.