Knowing quitters predicts smoking cessation in a homeless population.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the impact of knowing quitters on cessation among homeless smokers.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of data derived from a community-based randomized controlled trial of 430 homeless smokers. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine whether knowing quitters impacted the likelihood of cessation (salivary cotinine ≤ 20 ng/ml) at 26-week follow-up.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression showed cessation was more likely for smokers who knew ≥ 5 quitters compared with those who knew no quitters (Odds Ratio = 3.79, CI = 1.17, 12.27, p = .008), adjusting for age, education, income, and time to first cigarette in morning.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowing former smokers was associated with increased likelihood of achieving smoking abstinence among homeless smokers.