We examined potential correlates of being very interested in a quitline service, including psychosocial, tobacco-related, and demographic characteristics of participants.
Perceived stress was measured by using the Cohen 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), which measures how frequently life situations in the past month were perceived as stressful (14 (link)). We calculated summary scores ranging from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress (Cronbach α = .58).
Depressive symptoms were measured by using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) depression screener, which measures the frequency of depressive mood and anhedonia over the past 2 weeks (15 (link)). We calculated summary scores ranging from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater frequency of depressive symptoms and a score of 3 or higher indicating possible depression.
Social support was measured by using 4 items adapted from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) emotional support measure (16 (link)). Participants rated how much they agree or disagree (strongly disagree/disagree/agree/strongly agree) that they 1) have someone who understands their problems, 2) have someone who will listen to them when they need to talk, 3) have someone to turn to for suggestions about how to deal with a problem, and 4) have someone who will help them if they decide to quit smoking. We calculated mean scores ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater social support (Cronbach α = .84).
Nicotine dependence was measured by using the 2-item Heaviness of Smoking Index (17 (link)), which assesses number of cigarettes smoked per day and time between waking up and smoking a first cigarette. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater nicotine dependence.
Ambivalence about smoking was measured by using 3 items adapted from an attitudinal ambivalence scale, which assesses conflicting thoughts and feelings about smoking (18 (link)). Participants rated how much they agreed or disagreed that they 1) sometimes think smoking is good, while at other times think smoking is bad, 2) feel torn between wanting to smoke and not wanting to smoke, and 3) have mixed feelings about smoking. The response options for these 3 items were strongly disagree (score of 1), disagree (score of 2), agree (score of 3), and strongly agree (score of 4). We calculated mean scores ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater ambivalence about smoking (Cronbach α = .58).
Stage of readiness to quit was assessed by asking whether participants 1) were seriously thinking about quitting smoking in the next 6 months, and if so whether they 2) had a specific plan to quit smoking in the next 30 days (19 (link)). Participants not thinking about quitting smoking in the next 6 months were classified as being in the precontemplation stage; participants thinking about quitting in the next 6 months, but without a specific plan, were classified as being in the contemplation stage; and participants thinking about quitting in the next 6 months and having a specific plan to quit in the next 30 days were classified as being in the preparation stage.
Other tobacco-related items assessed whether participants lived with other smokers (yes/no) and used any cessation aid such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), Chantix, or “Zyban, bupropion, or Wellbutrin” during past quit attempts (yes/no).
We assessed participants’ age, sex, race, ethnicity, annual pretax household income, highest level of education, whether they had children younger than 18 years living in the home, and whether they lived in a rural or nonrural area, as determined by zip code (20 ).
Perceived stress was measured by using the Cohen 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4), which measures how frequently life situations in the past month were perceived as stressful (14 (link)). We calculated summary scores ranging from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress (Cronbach α = .58).
Depressive symptoms were measured by using the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) depression screener, which measures the frequency of depressive mood and anhedonia over the past 2 weeks (15 (link)). We calculated summary scores ranging from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater frequency of depressive symptoms and a score of 3 or higher indicating possible depression.
Social support was measured by using 4 items adapted from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) emotional support measure (16 (link)). Participants rated how much they agree or disagree (strongly disagree/disagree/agree/strongly agree) that they 1) have someone who understands their problems, 2) have someone who will listen to them when they need to talk, 3) have someone to turn to for suggestions about how to deal with a problem, and 4) have someone who will help them if they decide to quit smoking. We calculated mean scores ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater social support (Cronbach α = .84).
Nicotine dependence was measured by using the 2-item Heaviness of Smoking Index (17 (link)), which assesses number of cigarettes smoked per day and time between waking up and smoking a first cigarette. Scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater nicotine dependence.
Ambivalence about smoking was measured by using 3 items adapted from an attitudinal ambivalence scale, which assesses conflicting thoughts and feelings about smoking (18 (link)). Participants rated how much they agreed or disagreed that they 1) sometimes think smoking is good, while at other times think smoking is bad, 2) feel torn between wanting to smoke and not wanting to smoke, and 3) have mixed feelings about smoking. The response options for these 3 items were strongly disagree (score of 1), disagree (score of 2), agree (score of 3), and strongly agree (score of 4). We calculated mean scores ranging from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater ambivalence about smoking (Cronbach α = .58).
Stage of readiness to quit was assessed by asking whether participants 1) were seriously thinking about quitting smoking in the next 6 months, and if so whether they 2) had a specific plan to quit smoking in the next 30 days (19 (link)). Participants not thinking about quitting smoking in the next 6 months were classified as being in the precontemplation stage; participants thinking about quitting in the next 6 months, but without a specific plan, were classified as being in the contemplation stage; and participants thinking about quitting in the next 6 months and having a specific plan to quit in the next 30 days were classified as being in the preparation stage.
Other tobacco-related items assessed whether participants lived with other smokers (yes/no) and used any cessation aid such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), Chantix, or “Zyban, bupropion, or Wellbutrin” during past quit attempts (yes/no).
We assessed participants’ age, sex, race, ethnicity, annual pretax household income, highest level of education, whether they had children younger than 18 years living in the home, and whether they lived in a rural or nonrural area, as determined by zip code (20 ).
Free full text: Click here
