Predictors and reasons for starting and sustaining quit attempts in a national cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS
The national prevalence of daily smoking among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is 39% but falling. We explore factors associated with starting and sustaining quit attempts, and reasons given for quitting.


DESIGN AND METHODS
We analysed data from the nationally representative quota sample of 759 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who reported smoking at least weekly in the Talking About The Smokes baseline survey (April 2012-October 2013) who completed a follow-up survey a year later (August 2013-August 2014).


RESULTS
Having made more quit attempts, more recent quit attempts in the past, motivational attitudes, having been encouraged to quit by a health professional and having noticed tobacco advertising were associated with making a quit attempt between surveys. Having made longer quit attempts in the past, non-daily smoking and quit self-efficacy were associated with sustaining abstinence. But neither having made more quit attempts in the past nor dependence was associated with sustaining abstinence. Health concerns, price and setting an example to children were the most common reasons given by smokers and ex-smokers for quitting.


DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
Different factors predict making and sustaining quit attempts among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers. We need to rethink current messages that just encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smokers to keep making quit attempts by increasing motivation to quit, as motivation and making more quit attempts does not predict eventual success. We could focus more on increasing smokers' confidence that they can successfully quit.
['Thomas|David P|DP|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8653-0621', 'Lyons|Louise|L|', 'Borland|Ron|R|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001315:Australia D015331:Cohort Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008137:Longitudinal Studies D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009042:Motivation D044468:Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander D000074285:Smokers D012907:Smoking D016540:Smoking Cessation D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Aboriginal smoking Indigenous smoking cessation