Learning Objectives: understand attitudes and characteristics of Chinese American smokers using the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) framework.
Abstract: The study examined the application of the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) in Chinese American Smokers. Analyses were based on a convenience sample of 202 Chinese smokers residing in the San Francisco Bay Area with 97% foreign-born, 20.3% females, mean age=39.8 years and mean cigarettes/day=8.6. Based on TTM, 34.7% were in precontemplation (PC), 37.1% in contemplation (C), and 28.2% in preparation (PR). Stages of Change were not associated with baseline smoking and sociodemographic characteristics. MANOVA and follow-up ANOVAs were conducted to examine decisional balance, temptation, and processes across stages. The anticipated cross-over pattern of the pros and cons of smoking was observed, those in PR and C valued the cons significantly more than PC smokers (p < .01). PC smokers reported higher temptation to smoke at various situations than PR smokers (p < .01); they also reported less usage of 8 out of the 10 processes compared to smokers in C and PR (p < .01). At 6 months, 7-day abstinence rates reported at each stage was 7.1% (PC), 12.1%(C) and 20.0% (PR), p=0.17; proportions reported at least one 24-hour quit attempt were 50.0% (PC), 76.4% (C) and 90.0% (PR), p < .001. Stage remained a significant predictor for quit attempts with cigarettes/day, FTND scores, education and gender adjusted in the multiple logistic regression model. Preliminary results support the application of TTM to Chinese smokers and underscore the importance of treating a full spectrum of Chinese smokers including those with no intention to quit.
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