© 2005 American Public Health Association DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.021451
At the time of this study, Gregory L. Greenwood, Jay P. Paul, Lance M. Pollack, Diane Binson, Joseph A. Catania, Jason Chang, and Gary Humfleet were with the University of California, San Francisco. Ron Stall was with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga. Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Gregory Greenwood, PhD, MPH, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery St, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105 (e-mail: ggreenwood{at}psg.ucsf.edu).
Objectives. We examined tobacco use and cessation among a probability sample of urban men who have sex with men (MSM) living in 4 large US cities. Methods. Of the 2402 men who were eligible for follow-up from a previously recruited probability sample, 1780 (74%) completed tobacco surveys between January and December 1999. Results. Current smoking rates were higher for urban MSM (31.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=28.6%, 34.3%) than for men in the general population (24.7%; 95% CI=21.2%, 28.2%). Among MSM, 27% were former smokers. A complex set of sociodemographic, tobacco-related, and other factors were associated with cessation. Conclusions. Results support earlier reports that smoking rates are higher for MSM compared with men in the general population. Findings related to cessation underscore the need to target tobacco control efforts for MSM.
Accumulating evidence suggests that men who have sex with men (MSM) smoke at higher rates (estimates ranging from 34% to 50%) than do men in the general population.14 These point prevalence estimates, however, have been based primarily on convenience samples. We do not yet have precise and accurate population-based data of smoking rates for MSM because (1) it is difficult to accurately count MSM living in the United States, (2) MSM health studies have not researched tobacco use, and (3) population-based surveillance studies of tobacco have not asked about sexual orientation or same-gender behavior. We sought to estimate the prevalence of current smoking for MSM with data drawn by probabilistic sampling methods from different regions of the United States. Smoking cessation research has not adequately dealt with MSM, even though this population is targeted by tobacco companies58 and is affected disproportionately by smoking. This situation is particularly worrisome given that smoking exacerbates HIV/AIDS.913 No data are currently available on the rates of smoking cessation among MSM, the mean number of quit attempts, the methods used to quit, and the characteristics of former smokers and correlates of cessation. Collecting such basic data would be an essential first step in addressing smoking cessation among MSM, the goal being to increase the number of MSM smokers who use and benefit from evidence-based programs.1,4 Our objectives were (1) to measure tobacco use among a probability sample of urban MSM and to compare the rates of current smoking between these MSM and similarly aged men sampled by the National Household Interview Survey (NHIS) and (2) to describe smoking cessation rates and identify the correlates of cessation. Our findings were meant to document how urban MSM benefit from tobacco control programs and offer an early glimpse of how cessation data could inform the development of targeted interventions for this population.
Overview The cross-sectional Gay Mens Tobacco Study (GMTS) was conducted between January and December 1999 in a previously recruited sample of adult MSM (the Urban Mens Health Study [UMHS]). The primary aim of the GMTS was to measure tobacco use and tobacco-related factors not collected by the UMHS, whose principal aim was to measure the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and to identify related risk factors for urban MSM.
Sample Construction of UMHS
UMHS Procedure
GMTS Procedure
Weighting
Measures
Data Analysis Plan
Smoking cessation.
Among MSM former smokers (no smoking in the past 30 days), we described their previous quit histories and identified the characteristics and correlates of cessation. Following the recommendations of Hosmer and Lemeshow,24 univariate analyses using
Tobacco Use Patterns of Urban MSM Current smoking patterns. Among this probability sample of urban MSM, 31.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 28.6%, 34.3%) reported smoking during the past 30 days. Daily smoking was reported by 25.7% (95% CI = 23.2%, 28.4%), nondaily regular smoking was reported by 1.8% (95% CI = 1.1%, 3.0%), and nonregular smoking (smoking on a nondaily or nonroutine basis) was reported by 4.8% (95% CI = 3.8%, 6.2%). On average, 4.6% (95% CI = 2.8%, 7.4%) of MSM daily smokers reported smoking 3 or more packs of cigarettes per day, 8.8% (95% CI = 5.7%, 13.19%) smoked 1.5 packs per day, 38.8% (95% CI = 33.0%, 44.9%) smoked 1 pack per day, 16.0% (95% CI = 12.2%, 20.7%) smoked less than 1 pack but more than 5 cigarettes per day, 31.1% (95% CI = 25.9%, 36.8%) smoked 15 cigarettes per day, and 0.7% (95% CI = 0.2%, 2.3%) smoked fewer than 1 cigarette a day. Lifetime tobacco use patterns. Lifetime rates of other tobacco use were 57.5% (95% CI = 54.5%, 60.5%) for cigars, 33.4% (95% CI = 30.8%, 36.2%) for pipes, and 13.6% (95% CI = 11.7%, 15.7%) for chewing tobacco. Nondaily regular use (on a routine basis, but not necessarily every day) was reported by 3.3% (95% CI=2.3%, 4.6%) for cigars, 5.8% (95% CI = 4.6%, 7.2%) for pipes, and 1.2% (95% CI = 0.8%, 2.0%) for chewing tobacco. Lifetime cigarette smoking rates were 52.5% (95% CI = 49.5%, 55.5%) for daily smoking, 3.3% (95% CI = 2.4%, 4.6%) for nondaily regular smoking, and 3.6% (95% CI = 2.6%, 4.8%) for nonregular smoking. Eleven percent (95% CI=9.4%, 13.0%) of urban MSM had never smoked a cigarette, whereas 29.6% (95% CI = 26.9%, 32.4%) reported having smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetimes.
Current Smoking by Urban MSM vs Men
Smoking Cessation Among Urban MSM Smoking prevalence. Among the urban MSM, 26.9% (95% CI = 24.3, 29.6) were former smokers (had smoked at least 100 cigarettes lifetime but no smoking during the past 30 days), 20.0% (95% CI = 17.8%, 22.4%) used to smoke regularly or daily but had not smoked for 1 year or more, 3.6% (95% CI = 2.7%, 5.0%) were regular or daily smokers who had not smoked for at least 3 months but less than 1 year, and 1.6% (95% CI = 1.0, 2.8) had not smoked for more than 30 days but less than 3 months. Another 1.6% (95% CI = 1.1, 2.5) never smoked regularly and had not smoked in the past 30 days. Cessation attempts and methods. MSM former smokers (no smoking in the past 30 days) reported an average of 2 prior quit attempts, and the majority reported quitting because of health concerns. Reported methods used to quit included cutting down by smoking fewer cigarettes (46.7%), smoking a lower-nicotine brand (42.0%), and using nicotine replacement products (19.0%) as well as other methods such as participating in smoking cessation classes (10.3%). Still more strategies included receiving advice and support from medical or other health care providers (8.0%), reading self-help materials (9.8%), and making lifestyle changes in diet or exercise (9.6%).
Characteristics and Correlates of Cessation
Multivariate findings. Independent correlates of smoking cessation identified in the final multivariate model are presented in Table 3
Two independent correlates of smoking cessation were having many gay or bisexual friends and having few or no gay or bisexual friends who smoked. MSM who reported that more than half of their friends were gay or bisexual were more likely (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.5; 95% CI =1.1, 5.5) to report cessation compared with MSM who reported that fewer than half of their friends were gay or bisexual. MSM who reported that none or almost none of their gay or bisexual friends smoked were almost 4 times more likely (OR=3.8; 95% CI=1.1, 8.4) to report smoking cessation than those who reported all or almost all of their friends smoked.
Our study is one of the first studies to use a probability sample to measure smoking rates among MSM and to support earlier reports14 that MSM appear to smoke at higher rates than do men in general. Including the 1999 NHIS data, which contain some proportion of MSM in the sample and so presumably raise prevalence rates for men, is important for further analysis. We could reasonably assume that the disparities in smoking would likely be even greater if we could clearly compare the two groups. Our study adds strong evidence that urban MSM smoke at high rates, and it advances the argument that they should be identified as population to be prioritized for intensive and targeted tobacco control efforts. Furthermore, considering that MSM already experience the burden of serious health problems such as HIV/AIDS, which tobacco use may exacerbate, and that the tobacco industry targets the gay and lesbian population,58 the case for such concentrated efforts is even more persuasive. To effectively implement and monitor any such targeted efforts requires that a measure of sexual orientation or same-gender behavior be added to local, state, and national behavioral surveys.25 The costs of constructing this probability sample of urban MSM were very high. If data on sexual orientation or same-gender behavior were routinely collected in basic health surveys at every jurisdiction level, public health problems such as smoking, depression, cancer, and heart disease could be assessed and monitored. Our study is the first study to examine the topic of smoking cessation among MSM, and our findings are interesting in light of the larger body of smoking cessation research.2630 Most noteworthy, we found that fewer MSM were former smokers and that more quit attempts had been made than in a general-population cohort sample.24 Consistent with previous research, however, we found that most MSM tried to quit by reducing smoking and using nicotine replacement products. A smaller number of MSM former smokers also relied on a variety of services such as group cessation classes or advice and assistance from medical or other health care providers. A complex and sometimes counterintuitive set of individual, relational, and social factors were associated with cessation. We found that cessation for MSM was related to older age and partner smoking status.28,31 As among the general public, successful quitting for aging MSM may be strongly motivated by the emergence of serious health concerns or by the accumulated skills, willpower, resources, and resolve that often come with experience. Similarly, the effects of relational and environmental support from a former-smoking partner may be just as important to MSM as they are to men and women in general. We did not find that sociodemographic characteristics such as race/ethnicity and education were significantly associated with cessation in the final multivariate model, a result that was consistent with some28,31 but not all previous studies.26 A significant departure from earlier cessation research was our finding that indicators of nicotine addiction were positively associated with cessation for MSM. We found that MSM former smokers were more likely to report heavier smoking and earlier onset of regular or daily use, whereas most studies have found the oppositethat cessation is more common for those who are "less" addicted (i.e., smoke fewer cigarettes and start later in life). Perhaps the trajectories of smoking and quitting for MSM are in some ways unique and supported by complex and interacting factors specific to MSM themselves, their relationships, and their community experiences. Or perhaps our finding is an anomaly that will be corrected by future cessation work with MSM. In the absence of additional research or new theories or hypotheses to guide us, we believe that these contradictory findings and possibilities should be viewed with caution and curiosity. Finally, we found that cessation was associated with social factors of greater importance to MSM than to the general population. MSM former smokers were more likely to report social networks consisting of no or few gay or bisexual friends who smoked and many gay or bisexual friends in general. Although the importance of social context variables has been recognized in cessation research,32 our findings suggest that factors unique to MSM may play an important role in positively influencing cessation. For example, MSM smokers may be personally motivated to quit smoking to be accepted and to fit in with their social networks, or the norms, values, interests, and activities of their networks may serve to interrupt smoking and support cessation. The size and density of social networks also may be an important avenue to explore in researching cessation with MSM. Perhaps getting involved and making more friends within MSM or gay communities decreases perceived stress and increases social support, factors that previous research has found to be associated with smoking.3337 Future studies need to uncover how these unique social factors operate and contribute to cessation by MSM.
Limitations
Implications and Future Directions Our findings on cessation suggest that although some urban MSM have benefited and will continue to benefit from standard cessation treatments, we do not yet know whether differences exist in treatment use, satisfaction, and success (i.e., quit rates) between MSM and men in general. When such basic research is lacking, particularly for priority populations, the tobacco use and dependence guidelines40 recommend that investigations be conducted to examine the treatment needs of the population and to develop culturally appropriate interventions. Our findings are a first step but will need to be further supported by future cessation research that uncovers the process and mechanisms related to cessation for MSM as tobacco prevention and treatment efforts targeted to these men are developed.
This study was funded by the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (grant 7RT-0013). The National Institute of Mental Health (grant MH54320) provided primary support for the original baseline study. This study is dedicated to the vision, leadership, and tireless advocacy of Naphtali Offen (University of California, San Francisco), Bob Gordon (San Francisco Tobacco Free Project), and Gloria Soliz (Coalition of Lavender Americans on Smoking & Health), whose efforts to reduce tobacco use and promote health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities are unmatched.
Human Participant Protection
Contributors G. Greenwood, J. Paul, D. Binson, L. Pollack, J. Catania, and R. Stall designed the study, constructed the questionnaire, oversaw the fieldwork, and completed the data collection. G. Greenwood took the leadership role in writing the article, leading the analysis team, and revising the article. J. Paul, D. Binson, L. Pollack, J. Catania, J. Chang, G. Humfleet, and R. Stall participated in designing the analysis plan and in reviewing and writing the article. L. Pollack and J. Chang analyzed the data. R. Stall served as the original principal investigator for this study. Accepted for publication February 12, 2004.
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