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Changes in smoking associated with an acute health event: Theoretical and practical implications

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Experiencing a serious adverse behavior-related consequence may motivate behavior change.Purpose: To examine how a sentinel health event is associated with changes in smoking.Methods: We used a prospective cohort design. Adult emergency department (ED) patients provided demographic data, a smoking history, ratings of quit intentions, and endorsement of self-identified smoking-related health problems. A chart review collected data on acuity, ED disposition, and medical diagnoses. Smoking was reassessed 1 month postvisit. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to predict (a) intention to quit, (b) any quit attempt of 24 hr or more, and (3) 7-day abstinence.Results: Of 717 smokers enrolled, 189 (26%) intended to quit within the next month. Of the 253 participants reached 1 month postvisit, 126 (50%) reported they had attempted to quit, with 44 (19%) reporting 7-day abstinence. After controlling for other predictors, several event-related variables, such as having a smoking-related ED visit and being admitted to the hospital, were strong predictors of outcomes.Conclusion: Compared to community-based estimates, many more smokers in our sample attempted to quit and achieved 7-day abstinence. This was especially true among smokers who attributed their ED visit to a smoking-related health problem and who were admitted to the hospital. We discuss the implications for tobacco intervention design in medical settings.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey

    Edwin D. Boudreaux Ph.D.

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ

    Brigitte M. Baumann M.D.

  3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA

    Carlos A. Camargo M.D., Dr.P.H.

  4. Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, New Jersey

    Erin O’Hea Ph.D.

  5. Department of Psychology, LaSalle University, USA

    Erin O’Hea Ph.D.

  6. Department of Psychiatry UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, USA

    Douglas M. Ziedonis M.D., M.P.H.

Authors
  1. Edwin D. Boudreaux Ph.D.
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  2. Brigitte M. Baumann M.D.
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  3. Carlos A. Camargo M.D., Dr.P.H.
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  4. Erin O’Hea Ph.D.
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  5. Douglas M. Ziedonis M.D., M.P.H.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edwin D. Boudreaux Ph.D..

Additional information

This study was supported by a NIH/NID K23 Research Career Award (EDB) Grant (DA-16698-01) and a UMDNJ Foundation Seed Grant.

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Boudreaux, E.D., Baumann, B.M., Camargo, C.A. et al. Changes in smoking associated with an acute health event: Theoretical and practical implications. ann. behav. med. 33, 189–199 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02879900

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