Women smokers' perceptions of smoking-related health risks

Unrealistic perceptions of personal susceptibility to the health hazards of smoking may be an important determinant of cigarette smoking and a barrier to smoking cessation. This study was undertaken to assess perceptions of smoking-related health risks among women smokers.

A secondary analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data collected from 1184 (response rate 61%) perimenopausal women patients from one university-affiliated health system.

The majority of respondents were white and college-educated and had an annual household income of over $60,000. Twelve percent of respondents were current smokers, 37% were former smokers, and 51% were never smokers. Sixty percent of current smokers rated their lifetime risk for developing heart disease or lung cancer as average or below average, and 75% of current smokers rated their lifetime risk for developing osteoporosis as average or below average. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that any smoking history (past or current) was associated with perception of above average risk for developing lung cancer, but only heavier smoking (> or =10 cigarettes per day) was associated with perception of above average risk for developing heart disease. No level of smoking was associated with perception of above average risk for developing osteoporosis.

The majority of women smokers surveyed perceived their lifetime risk for developing heart disease, lung cancer, and osteoporosis as average or below average. It appears that women smokers are more aware of their increased risk for developing lung cancer than their increased risk for developing heart disease or osteoporosis.