Predictors of retention in smoking cessation treatment among Latino smokers in the Northeast United States

Abstract

Only one previous study on minority retention in smoking cessation treatment has been conducted (Nevid JS, Javier RA, Moulton JL III. Factors predicting participant attrition in a community-based, culturally specific smoking cessation program for Hispanic smokers. Health Psychol 1996; 15: 226-29). We investigated predictors of intervention completion and assessment completion among Latino smokers (n = 131) with asthmatic children participating in a home-based asthma education study that included smoking cessation counseling. We examined a variety of pretreatment demographic and psychosocial predictors of intervention completion (completing all three home visits versus <3), assessment completion (attendance/not) and total study participation (completing all six contacts versus <6). Lower levels of depressed mood (OR = 0.912, 95% CI: 0.857-0.971, P < 0.01) and fewer 'pros' of smoking (OR = 0.882, 95% CI: 0.809-0.961, P < 0.01) predicted intervention completion. Predictors of assessment completion included having more friends who smoke (OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.23-3.56, P < 0.01), fewer pros of smoking (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81-0.95, P < 0.01) and a strong belief that quitting smoking would benefit the child's asthma (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.04-2.74, P < 0.05). Unemployed participants were more likely to complete all six study contacts than those who were working (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14-0.99, P < 0.05). Findings suggest the need to tailor retention strategies during active treatment and follow-up assessments to target those who at risk of dropping out.