Patient-Level Characteristics Associated with Tobacco Users and Nonusers at a Student-Run Free Clinic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Tobacco Cessation

Background:

• Many tobacco users wish to quit but face barriers to accessing resources.
• Previous studies on tobacco users in student-run free clinics had limited sample sizes.
• Understanding sociodemographic differences is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sociodemographic differences between tobacco users and nonusers at a student-run free clinic.
• To identify key variables associated with tobacco use in this patient population.
• To inform the development of targeted tobacco cessation strategies.

Main Methods:

• A pooled cross-sectional design was used, analyzing patient-level data from electronic health records.
• Data spanned from January 2012 to February 2020, including 4264 patients.
• Multivariable logistic regression analyzed differences in tobacco use based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education level.

Main Results:

• 28.7% of patients reported tobacco use.
• Male patients had significantly higher odds of tobacco use (OR 1.690).
• Lower educational attainment (9th-11th grade, high school graduates) and older age were associated with increased odds of tobacco use.

Conclusions:

• Patient-level sociodemographic differences in tobacco use were identified.
• Findings suggest a need to integrate these differences into intervention strategies.
• Future research should explore geographic location and socioeconomic status to further understand these disparities.