Smokers with and without Epilepsy show Similar Smoking Rate, Dependence Level, Cessation Attempts, and Motives

Abstract Background Individuals with epilepsy are up to twice as likely to be current cigarette smokers compared to those without. Moreover, one study showed current smoking is associated with an increased likelihood of seizures. However, outside of this one study, there is limited data on the presentation of specific smoking-related behaviors and cognitions in people with epilepsy, inhibiting our understanding of the severity of this behavior and our ability to formulate effective treatments for this population. Purpose The current study examined smoking-related behaviors and cognitions among smokers with epilepsy compared to smokers without epilepsy. Methods Participants were 43 smokers with (Mage = 43.4, SD = 11.6) and 43 smokers without (Mage = 45.5, SD = 8.8) epilepsy recruited from an urban, academic setting within the U.S. Separate Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted to evaluate differences between smokers with and without epilepsy in terms of smoking behavior (i.e., daily smoking rate, nicotine dependence, number of quit attempts, smoking duration, age of smoking onset) and smoking-related cognitive processes (i.e., smoking motives, perceived barriers to smoking cessation, cessation motives) after controlling for race and problematic alcohol use. Results Smokers with epilepsy did not differ from smokers without epilepsy in terms of smoking rate (p = .51, ηp2 = .01), nicotine dependence (p = .12, ηp2 = .03), age of smoking onset (p = .42, ηp2 = .01), number of quit attempts (p = .43, ηp2 = .01), barriers to cessation (p = .30 to .80, ηp2 = .00 to .01), or cessation motives (p = .28 to .60, ηp2 = .00 to .02). Smokers without epilepsy reported higher levels of smoking for sensorimotor manipulation reasons (p = .03, ηp2 = .06) and longer smoking duration (p = .03, ηp2 = .06) than smokers with epilepsy. Conclusions Smokers with epilepsy do not appear to differ significantly from smokers without epilepsy in terms of smoking-related behaviors and cognitions, and may therefore benefit from current evidence-based treatments for smoking cessation that are not contraindicated for epilepsy (i.e., bupropion, varenicline).

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Assessment of a Personal Interactive Carbon Monoxide Breath Sensor in People Who Smoke Cigarettes: Single-Arm Cohort Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.22811 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer D Marler ◽

Craig A Fujii ◽

Kristine S Wong ◽

Joseph A Galanko ◽

Daniel J Balbierz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Exhaled Breath ◽

Disease States ◽

Quit Attempt ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Motivation To Quit ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Evidence Based Treatments

BACKGROUND Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Existing evidence-based treatments are underutilized and have seen little recent innovation. The success of personal biofeedback interventions in other disease states portends a similar opportunity in smoking cessation. The Pivot Breath Sensor is a personal interactive FDA-cleared (over-the-counter) device that measures carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaled breath, enabling users to link their smoking behavior and CO values, and track their progress in reducing or quitting smoking. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess the Pivot Breath Sensor in people who smoke cigarettes, evaluating changes in attitudes toward quitting smoking, changes in smoking behavior, and use experience. METHODS US adults (18-80 years of age, ≥10 cigarettes per day [CPD]) were recruited online for this remote 12-week study. Participants completed a screening call, informed consent, and baseline questionnaire, and then were mailed their sensor. Participants were asked to submit 4 or more breath samples per day and complete questionnaires at 1-4, 8, and 12 weeks. Outcomes included attitudes toward quitting smoking (Stage of Change, success to quit, and perceived difficulty of quitting), smoking behavior (quit attempts, CPD reduction, and 7-, 30-day point prevalence abstinence [PPA]), and use experience (impact and learning). RESULTS Participants comprised 234 smokers, mean age 39.9 (SD 11.3) years, 52.6% (123/234) female, mean CPD 20.3 (SD 8.0). The 4- and 12-week questionnaires were completed by 92.3% (216/234) and 91.9% (215/234) of participants, respectively. Concerning attitude outcomes, at baseline, 15.4% (36/234) were seriously thinking of quitting in the next 30 days, increasing to 38.9% (84/216) at 4 weeks and 47.9% (103/215) at 12 weeks (both P<.001). At 12 weeks, motivation to quit was increased in 39.1% (84/215), unchanged in 54.9% (118/215), and decreased in 6.0% (13/215; P<.001). Additional attitudes toward quitting improved from baseline to 12 weeks: success to quit 3.3 versus 5.0 (P<.001) and difficulty of quitting 2.8 versus 4.3 (P<.001). Regarding smoking behavior, at 4 weeks, 28.2% (66/234) had made 1 or more quit attempts (≥1 day of abstinence), increasing to 48.3% (113/234) at 12 weeks. At 4 weeks, 23.1% (54/234) had reduced CPD by 50% or more, increasing to 38.5% (90/234) at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, CPD decreased by 41.1% from baseline (P<.001), and 7- and 30-day PPA were 12.0% (28/234) and 6.0% (14/234), respectively. Concerning use experience, 75.3% (171/227) reported the sensor increased their motivation to quit. More than 90% (>196/214) indicated the sensor taught them about their CO levels and smoking behavior, and 73.1% (166/227) reported that seeing their CO values made them want to quit smoking. CONCLUSIONS Use of the Pivot Breath Sensor resulted in a significant increase in motivation to quit, a reduction in CPD, and favorable quit attempt rates. These outcomes confer increased likelihood of quitting smoking. Accordingly, the results support a role for biofeedback via personal CO breath sampling in smoking cessation. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04133064; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04133064

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Assessment of a Personal Interactive Carbon Monoxide Breath Sensor in People Who Smoke Cigarettes: Single-Arm Cohort Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/22811 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (10) ◽

pp. e22811

Author(s):

Jennifer D Marler ◽

Craig A Fujii ◽

Kristine S Wong ◽

Joseph A Galanko ◽

Daniel J Balbierz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Monoxide ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Exhaled Breath ◽

Disease States ◽

Quit Attempt ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Motivation To Quit ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Evidence Based Treatments

Background Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Existing evidence-based treatments are underutilized and have seen little recent innovation. The success of personal biofeedback interventions in other disease states portends a similar opportunity in smoking cessation. The Pivot Breath Sensor is a personal interactive FDA-cleared (over-the-counter) device that measures carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaled breath, enabling users to link their smoking behavior and CO values, and track their progress in reducing or quitting smoking. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the Pivot Breath Sensor in people who smoke cigarettes, evaluating changes in attitudes toward quitting smoking, changes in smoking behavior, and use experience. Methods US adults (18-80 years of age, ≥10 cigarettes per day [CPD]) were recruited online for this remote 12-week study. Participants completed a screening call, informed consent, and baseline questionnaire, and then were mailed their sensor. Participants were asked to submit 4 or more breath samples per day and complete questionnaires at 1-4, 8, and 12 weeks. Outcomes included attitudes toward quitting smoking (Stage of Change, success to quit, and perceived difficulty of quitting), smoking behavior (quit attempts, CPD reduction, and 7-, 30-day point prevalence abstinence [PPA]), and use experience (impact and learning). Results Participants comprised 234 smokers, mean age 39.9 (SD 11.3) years, 52.6% (123/234) female, mean CPD 20.3 (SD 8.0). The 4- and 12-week questionnaires were completed by 92.3% (216/234) and 91.9% (215/234) of participants, respectively. Concerning attitude outcomes, at baseline, 15.4% (36/234) were seriously thinking of quitting in the next 30 days, increasing to 38.9% (84/216) at 4 weeks and 47.9% (103/215) at 12 weeks (both P<.001). At 12 weeks, motivation to quit was increased in 39.1% (84/215), unchanged in 54.9% (118/215), and decreased in 6.0% (13/215; P<.001). Additional attitudes toward quitting improved from baseline to 12 weeks: success to quit 3.3 versus 5.0 (P<.001) and difficulty of quitting 2.8 versus 4.3 (P<.001). Regarding smoking behavior, at 4 weeks, 28.2% (66/234) had made 1 or more quit attempts (≥1 day of abstinence), increasing to 48.3% (113/234) at 12 weeks. At 4 weeks, 23.1% (54/234) had reduced CPD by 50% or more, increasing to 38.5% (90/234) at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, CPD decreased by 41.1% from baseline (P<.001), and 7- and 30-day PPA were 12.0% (28/234) and 6.0% (14/234), respectively. Concerning use experience, 75.3% (171/227) reported the sensor increased their motivation to quit. More than 90% (>196/214) indicated the sensor taught them about their CO levels and smoking behavior, and 73.1% (166/227) reported that seeing their CO values made them want to quit smoking. Conclusions Use of the Pivot Breath Sensor resulted in a significant increase in motivation to quit, a reduction in CPD, and favorable quit attempt rates. These outcomes confer increased likelihood of quitting smoking. Accordingly, the results support a role for biofeedback via personal CO breath sampling in smoking cessation. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04133064; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04133064

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Identifying Barriers to Entering Smoking Cessation Treatment Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Smokers

The Journal of Smoking Cessation ◽

10.1375/jsc.5.2.164 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 164-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Amy L. Copeland ◽

Michael S. Businelle ◽

Diana W. Stewart ◽

Scott M. Patterson ◽

Carla J. Rash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Stage Of Change ◽

Psychosocial Treatment ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Smoking Rate ◽

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽

Smoking Cessation Treatment ◽

Cessation Treatment ◽

Professional Assistance

AbstractBackground:Efficacious smoking cessation interventions exist, yet few smokers utilise available resources such as psychosocial treatment programs and pharmacotherapy. The goals of the present study were to (1) identify perceived barriers to entering smoking cessation treatment programs among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers, who are presently underrepresented in smoking cessation interventions; (2) determine what variables are most important in predicting the barriers identified (i.e., age, gender, ethnicity, income, nicotine dependence level, smoking rate, years smoking, stage of change, presence of smoking-related illness and medical insurance status).Methods:Responses from socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers (N= 343) were collected in 2004–2005 and analysed to develop the Treatment Barriers Questionnaire, a 40-item measure of reasons for not entering smoking cessation programs. Study methods were approved by the Institutional Review Board of Louisiana State University; informed consent procedures were employed.Results:Principal components analysis yielded seven scales named for their theme: (1) Preparedness to Quit Smoking; (2) Work and Time Constraints; (3) Smokers Can or Should Quit on Own; (4) Opinions about Professional Assistance; (5) Mobility Limitations; (6) Insurance Limitations and (7) Misinformation about Professional Assistance. Gender, ethnicity, daily smoking rate, nicotine dependence and stage of change were significant predictors in regression analyses for scales 1,F(10, 201) = 7.83,p< .001,R2= .29, 2F(10, 201) = 2.30,p< .05,R2= .11, and 3,F(10, 201) = 3.58,p< .001,R2= .16. Conclusions: Results can inform efforts to facilitate entry and retention of smokers in cessation programs.

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Clearing the air: Chronic respiratory illnesses and smoking cessation in the adult psychiatric population

Mental Health Clinician ◽

10.9740/mhc.n199354 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 153-161

Author(s):

Emma C. Palmer ◽

Emily K. Frederick

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Practice Guidelines ◽

Psychiatric Illness ◽

Current Practice ◽

Primary Data ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Respiratory Illnesses ◽

Medication Therapy ◽

Psychiatric Population

Objective: To review current practice guidelines in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), review therapeutic options for smoking cessation, and apply current evidence to management of these conditions in the psychiatric population. Background: Chronic respiratory illnesses and nicotine dependence are frequently encountered conditions in the psychiatric population. Psychiatric illness itself may contribute to or be affected by these conditions; medication therapy may additionally be linked to alterations in mental status. However, it is well established that when left untreated or improperly managed, chronic respiratory illness and tobacco use can negatively affect patients' quality of life and lead to increased healthcare utilization. Methods: Current practice guidelines, literature reviews, and primary data pertaining to management of patients with asthma, COPD, and nicotine dependence were examined. Additional data regarding patients with psychiatric illness was reviewed and commented upon. Conclusions: Management of this particular population can pose significant clinical challenges. Regardless of what factors may contribute to the disease states and their treatment, it is important for clinicians to identify and take steps to manage both respiratory and psychiatric concerns as they are able. Identification, evidence-based treatment with appropriate medication therapy, and continuing patient education should be used together to help improve patient outcomes.

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Cancer Patients Enrolled in a Smoking Cessation Clinical Trial: Characteristics and Correlates of Smoking Rate and Nicotine Dependence

Journal of Addiction ◽

10.1155/2018/2438161 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Andrew Miele ◽

Morgan Thompson ◽

Nancy C. Jao ◽

Ravi Kalhan ◽

Frank Leone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Linear Regression ◽

Multiple Linear Regression ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Smoking Rate ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Management Interventions ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Sectional Analysis

Introduction. A substantial proportion of cancer patients continue to smoke after their diagnosis but few studies have evaluated correlates of nicotine dependence and smoking rate in this population, which could help guide smoking cessation interventions. Aim. This study evaluated correlates of smoking rate and nicotine dependence among 207 cancer patients. Methods. A cross-sectional analysis using multiple linear regression evaluated disease, demographic, affective, and tobacco-seeking correlates of smoking rate and nicotine dependence. Smoking rate was assessed using a timeline follow-back method. The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence measured levels of nicotine dependence. Results. A multiple linear regression predicting nicotine dependence showed an association with smoking to alleviate a sense of addiction from the Reasons for Smoking scale and tobacco-seeking behavior from the concurrent choice task (p<.05), but not with affect measured by the HADS and PANAS (p>.05). Multiple linear regression predicting prequit showed an association with smoking to alleviate addiction (p<.05). ANOVA showed that Caucasian participants reported greater rates of smoking compared to other races. Conclusions. The results suggest that behavioral smoking cessation interventions that focus on helping patients to manage tobacco-seeking behavior, rather than mood management interventions, could help cancer patients quit smoking.

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The Effectiveness of Web-Based Tailored Smoking Cessation Interventions on the Quitting Process (Project Quit): Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.9555 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bibhas Chakraborty ◽

Raju Maiti ◽

Victor J Strecher

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Point Prevalence ◽

Expected Number ◽

Intervention Component ◽

Web Based ◽

Entire Study ◽

Highly Educated ◽

Quit Attempts

BACKGROUND Project Quit was a randomized Web-based smoking cessation trial designed and conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan, where its primary outcome was the 7-day point prevalence. One drawback of such an outcome is that it only focuses on smoking behavior over a very short duration, rather than the quitting process over the entire study period. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to consider the number of quit attempts during the 6-month study period as an alternative outcome, which would better reflect the quitting process. We aimed to find out whether tailored interventions (high vs low) are better in reducing the number of quit attempts for specific subgroups of smokers. METHODS To identify interactions between intervention components of smoking cessation and individual smoker characteristics, we employed Poisson regression to analyze the number of quit attempts. This approach allowed us to construct data-driven, personalized interventions. RESULTS A negative effect of the number of cigarettes smoked per day (P=.03) and a positive effect of education (P=.03) on the number of quit attempts were detected from the baseline covariates (n=792). Thus, for every 10 extra cigarettes smoked per day, there was a 5.84% decrease in the expected number of quit attempts. Highly educated participants had a 15.49% increase in their expected number of quit attempts compared with their low-educated counterparts. A negative interaction between intervention component story and smoker’s education was also detected (P=.03), suggesting that a high-tailored story given to highly educated people results in 13.50% decrease in the number of quit attempts compared with a low-tailored story. CONCLUSIONS A highly individually tailored story is significantly more effective for smokers with a low level of education. This is consistent with prior findings from Project Quit based on the 7-day point prevalence.

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The Interaction of Smoking Cessation Norms and Nicotine Dependence on Quit Attempts: Gender-Stratified Results for Low-Income Smokers in Baltimore, MD

Substance Use & Misuse ◽

10.1080/10826084.2019.1683200 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 424-428 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Norah L. Crossnohere ◽

Melissa Davey-Rothwell ◽

Carl Latkin ◽

Tuo-Yen Tseng ◽

Lauren Czaplicki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Low Income ◽

Quit Attempts

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Smoking Among Participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivors Cohort: The Partnership for Health Study

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2003.06.130 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 189-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Karen M. Emmons ◽

Rita M. Butterfield ◽

Elaine Puleo ◽

Elyse R. Park ◽

Ann Mertens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Childhood Cancer ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Childhood Cancer Survivors ◽

Smoking Rate ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Smoking Behaviors ◽

Readiness To Quit

Purpose: This article describes baseline data collection and the intervention design of Partnership for Health, a smoking cessation intervention for smokers in the Childhood Cancer Survivors Study. The purpose of this article is to evaluate demographic, psychosocial, and cancer-related factors that are associated with smoking behavior and mediators of smoking cessation. Patients and Methods: This study includes 796 smokers from the Childhood Cancer Survivors Study database who were diagnosed with cancer before the age of 21, had survived at least 5 years, and were at least 18 years of age at the time of the baseline survey. Correlates of smoking behaviors included smoking rate, number of recent quit attempts, and nicotine dependence; two key mediators of smoking cessation, readiness to quit smoking and self-efficacy, were also assessed. Results: Participants smoked, on average, 14 cigarettes/day; 53.2% were nicotine dependent, and 58% had made at least one quit attempt in the past year. Smoking behaviors were primarily associated with demographic variables; mediators of cessation were primarily associated with age at cancer diagnosis and perceived vulnerability to smoking-related illnesses. Severity of psychologic symptoms was associated with increased smoking rate, high nicotine dependence, and low self-efficacy. Support for quitting was related to smoking rate, number of quit attempts, readiness to quit smoking, and self-efficacy. Conclusion: These findings indicate that many cancer survivors who smoke are receptive to smoking cessation interventions. Factors related to mediators of smoking cessation might be particularly good targets for intervention.

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Salivary biochemical assessments to determine smoking cessation under smoking cessation program

10.21203/rs.3.rs-41594/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Daood Umer ◽

Mohammed Nadeem Bijle ◽

Syed Sarosh Mahdi ◽

Hanan Omar ◽

Sobia Bilal

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Nicotine Dependence ◽

Biochemical Analysis ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Exact Test ◽

Human Mononuclear Cell ◽

Spectrophotometric Methods ◽

M1 Polarization ◽

Protein Components ◽

Paired T Test

Abstract Background: The study aim was to investigate the potential of salivary biochemical assessments to determine smoking cessation in patients under smoking cessation programs. Methods: The study validated smoking behavior and degree of nicotine dependence using Fagerström test for nicotine dependence in smokers and non-smokers. Protein components were examined using Raman spectroscopy. Salivary MMP-8 levels were analyzed using Quantikine human total MMP-8 immunoassay-kits. Thiocyanate (SCN-) concentrations, peroxidase and glutathione-peroxidase activities were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Human mononuclear cell line was examined for M1 polarization. The data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test and two-tailed paired t-test at α=0.05. Results: Amide I peak in smoker group was significantly reduced as compared to non-smokers (p<0.05). Sulfhydryl bond, dialkyl disulfides SS-stretch and corresponding disulphide bond at 500-545 cm-1 were significantly increased in smokers (p<0.05). The CH2 wag showed higher intensity amongst smoker group representing a recoil of carbon atoms. Salivary MMP-8 levels of participants after smoking cessation was significantly lower than smoking salivary levels (p<0.05). The SCN- and peroxidase concentrations were significantly higher in smoking group whereas an M1 polarization was seen in non-smokers. Conclusion: Salivary biochemical analysis can aid clinicians to verify smoking cessation in patients under smoking cessation programs.

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Takore i te Kai Ava’ava (Quit smoking), a mCessation Program Adapted for the Cook Islands: Indicators of Potential for Tobacco Control

Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/10105395211036267 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (6-7) ◽

pp. 714-720

Author(s):

Teinatangi Ringi ◽

Josephine Aumea Herman ◽

Maina Tairi ◽

Rosie Dobson ◽

Vili Nosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Smoking Behavior ◽

Text Message ◽

Value Added ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Cook Islands ◽

Quit Attempt ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Evidence Of Impact

Mobile phone–based smoking cessation interventions (mCessation) are an established evidence-based intervention designed to support smokers to quit. Evidence of impact to date is modestly positive but skewed in favor of high-resourced countries, with less evidence of value added to low-resourced settings. Takore i te Kai Ava’ava, a text message–based smoking cessation program, was delivered to smokers living on the island of Rarotonga in 2019. Eighty-eight smokers consented to take part. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire about current smoking behavior and previous quit attempts; follow-up measures at 2 months assess quit attempts feedback on the program. Thirty-two people completed the follow-up interviews; 10 (31%) had not smoked in the past 7 days, 23 (72%) reported a serious quit attempt, and 29 (91%) felt the program was effective for the Cook Islands. Takore i te Kai Ava’ava was deemed to be highly acceptable and potentially cost-effective.

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