305125
Polytobacco use among young adult South Asians
Objective/Purpose: To inform the development of community-based smoking cessation strategies for young adult SAs, we conducted a pilot study of tobacco use among Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, and Bangladeshi smokers utilizing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology.
Methods: SA community health personnel recruited male and female current cigarette smokers aged 18-29 from community and educational settings in Southern California. Participants completed an online survey to provide information on demographics, patterns of tobacco use and related cultural, social, and environmental factors.
Results: Of the 80 participants, 88% were male, 74% were foreign born, 22.5% had a high school education or less, 29% had some college or training, and 49.8% had a college degree. All participants had smoked cigarettes in the past month; 57% endorsed daily smoking, 86.2% reported heavy intermittent smoking, 38% smoked menthol cigarettes, and 33.8% used smokeless tobacco products concurrently. In addition, lifetime use of other tobacco products, included, little cigars (70%), pipes (32.5%), bidis (35%), and hookah (80%). Eighty-four percent reported past failed quit attempts and 61% intended to quit in the next year.
Discussion/Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate both high current and lifetime use of smoked and smokeless products that far exceed those of past studies in the U.S. Clearly, the popularity of emerging tobacco products and polytobacco use pose major health risks for young adult SA tobacco users. Despite the desire to quit, SAs in our study have been unsuccessful. Findings from this study will inform our future development of culturally attuned community-based cessation strategies tailored to the culture and lifestyle of young adult SAs, a population at risk for progression to tobacco addiction.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and cultureEpidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the forms of smoked and smokeless tobacco products used concurrently by young adult South Asian cigarette smokers
Keyword(s): Tobacco Use, Asian Americans
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator on state funded tobacco projects focusing on underrepresented, ethnically diverse populations. I also work closely with South Asian communities on research to reduce cancer health disparities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.