Effect of household children on adult ED smokers' motivation to quit

Angela M. Mills, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Karin V. Rhodes, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Christopher W. Follansbee, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Frances S. Shofer, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Melanie Prusakowski, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Steven L. Bernstein, Yale University
Edwin D. Boudreaux, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Rita K. Cydulka, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Gregory L. Larkin, Yale University School of Medicine
Annette L. Adams, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Lynne B. McCullough, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
David Schwegman, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
ACEP Smoking Cessation Study Group

Article comments

At the time of publication, Edwin Boudreaux was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized adult parenting smokers in the emergency department (ED) have a higher interest in quitting and may be more amenable to tobacco cessation counseling than smokers without children.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study of adult smokers in 8 US academic EDs.

RESULTS: One thousand one hundred sixty-eight smokers enrolled, 441 (37.8%) with household children (total of 973 exposed children). Compared to smokers without household children, smokers with children were younger (mean age, 37.4 vs 42.8 years), more female (60.3% vs 40.3%), and nonwhite (57.5% vs 44.5%) (all P < .006). Groups did not differ in nicotine addiction (median Fagerstrom score, 4 vs 4; P = .31). Parenting smokers were more interested in quitting (mean Ladder of Contemplation score, 4.8 vs 5.1 [P = .02]), felt it more important to quit (median score, 9 vs 8 [P = .01]), and more confident to quit (7 vs 6 [P = .004]) than nonparenting smokers. Smoking inside the home was banned by 45% of smokers with children vs 30% without household children (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Adult ED parenting smokers are interested in quitting and taking steps to limit their children's secondhand smoke exposure. Asking adult ED smokers about household children may enhance motivation to quit.