Learning Objectives: Describe current prevalence estimates and gaps in knowledge about tobacco-related issues among persons with disabilities.
Abstract:
Problem/Objective: There is little known about the prevalence of tobacco use and the difficulties involved with quitting smoking among persons with disabilities. Due to the lack of a standard definitions, problems in specifying and accessing populations, and possible low response rates due to the nature of disabilities, reliable estimates for initiation, prevalence and cessation are not available for persons with disabilities other than those with psychiatric diagnoses. In addition, information concerning use of cessation programs and techniques, in general or those targeted to specific groups, is sparse. Healthy People (HP) 2010 has identified the goals of promoting health, preventing secondary conditions and eliminating disparities among persons with disabilities.
Methods: A needs assessment has been performed with published literature and available national datasets on tobacco use and cessation among persons with disabilities.
Results: No national prevalence estimates of tobacco use or cessation are available on all persons with disabilities. Small center-based or disease condition-focused studies related to tobacco have been published on a variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities in the United States. Excluding psychological conditions, much less research has occurred on the tobacco use of adults with disabilities compared to youths.
Discussion: Lack of national estimates are due to numerous reasons, including difficulties in defining disabilities, obtaining national surveys with appropriate questions, covering the multitude of disability-causing conditions, and debunking common misconceptions regarding persons with disabilities. Analyses with new national datasets are proposed to obtain possible baseline measures.
NTC Presentation - Alpa 4.ppt (166.0 kb)
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