Partner Smoking Characteristics: Associations With Smoking and Quitting Among Blue-Collar Apprentices

Background Studies suggest that the social context of blue-collar workers contribute to their low smoking cessation rates. However, little is known on the effect of partner smoking and requests to quit on workers' cessation attempts. Methods Using data from a longitudinal smoking cessation intervention, multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to investigate the association of partner smoking characteristics with cessation among blue-collar apprentices. Results Smokers were more likely to have partners who smoke (OR 13.06; 95% CI 8.52-20.01). Partner's request to quit was associated with higher odds of smoking cessation at 1 month (OR 3.74; 95% CI 2.49-5.63) and 6 months (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.06-3.41) post-intervention. Having a partner who smoked was associated with lower odds of smoking cessation at 1 month (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.27-0.62), but not 6 months post-intervention. Conclusions Results suggest that smoking cessation interventions that include partner support might improve cessation among blue-collar smokers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:1102 1108, 2010. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.