Response error in self-reported current smoking frequency by black and white established smokers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Nicotine Research

Background:

• Black smokers face higher risks for smoking-related diseases than white smokers, despite reporting lower daily cigarette consumption.
• Disproportionately high serum cotinine levels in Black smokers have prompted concerns about potential self-reporting bias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the accuracy of self-reported smoking patterns between established Black and white smokers.
• To investigate potential racial differences in reporting errors related to smoking habits.

Main Methods:

• Structured telephone interviews and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect self-reported smoking data.
• Objective measures, including cigarette butt counts and lengths, were utilized to validate self-reported smoking patterns.
• Test-retest reliability of self-reported data was assessed in both racial groups.

Main Results:

• Both Black and white smokers significantly overestimated their smoking frequency, with no significant difference in the extent of this bias between groups.
• Underreporting of smoking was not found to be more prevalent in Black smokers compared to white smokers.
• While Black smokers smoked more of each cigarette and longer cigarettes, their total daily cigarette consumption (in millimeters) was lower than white smokers.

Conclusions:

• Self-reporting errors do not appear to explain the higher serum cotinine levels observed in Black smokers.
• Both racial groups exhibit poor accuracy in categorizing smoking frequency using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence.
• Further research is needed to understand the factors contributing to health disparities in smoking-related diseases.