State-Level Correlates of Unassisted Quit Attempts and Success

Although the majority of smokers attempting to quit do so without assistance, research in the area of unassisted quit behaviors is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether population-level policies and programs, such as smoke-free air policies and tobacco control programs, contribute to unassisted quit attempts and cessation.

The current study used the 2003 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) special Cessation Supplement (CS) to estimate unassisted quit attempt and success rates by state. Linear regression was used to examine whether state-level unassisted quit attempt and success rates were related to state-level policies and social norms. State-level factors investigated were tobacco control program funding, tobacco taxes, smoke-free air policies, state anti-smoking sentiment and recent change in smoking prevalence.

Consistent with previous studies, this study found the majority of smokers who attempted to quit did so without assistance. This study also found unassisted quit attempt rates were higher than assisted attempt rates in every state and DC. Additionally, unassisted quit success rates were higher than assisted quit success rates in most states; however, some states had higher assisted quit success rates. State-level factors associated with unassisted quit attempt rates included anti-smoking sentiment and tobacco taxes; however, no significant relationships were uncovered between unassisted quit success rates and state-level factors.

These results suggest that state-level factors may be more important in motivating smokers to attempt quitting, and other individual factors or unmeasured state factors may be related to quit success.