Abstract A093: Assessing cigarette smoking intensity among California adults and the need for tailored interventions to reduce health disparities
Authors: Mshigeni Salome Kapella , Nguyen Anhthu , Sacdalan Julian C , Pinder-McSwain Elizabeth , Tarazona Felipe Aperador 
Published: September 2024

Background: Smoking causes about 20% of all cancers and about 30% of all cancer deaths in the U.S (ACS, 2024). Smoking increases the risk for cancers of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, kidney, cervix, breast, liver, bladder, pancreas, stomach, colon, and acute myeloid leukemia and there is no safe form of tobacco smoke (CDC, 2023; ACS, 2024). This study aims to inform public health strategies that can mitigate smoking related disparities and improve health outcomes for marginalized populations. Methods: This study assessed the prevalence of cigarette smoking by demographic characteristics among California adults. We used secondary data from the 2019 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) that was collected through a random-digit dial telephone survey. Adults ages 18+ were interviewed. We utilized secondary data comprised of 22,160 participants. We conducted interactions between gender and race/ethnicity, and one's smoking status. Multinomial logistic regression test was conducted to predict the probability of participants' level. This study was approved by the researchers Institutional Review Board. Results: Majority or participants were non-smokers (93.1%), mostly females (51.2%,). Many had a bachelor’s degree (23.9%) or some college, vocational training, or an associate degree (22.8%). Many participants (59.8%) were married/living with a partner, and (25.7%) were single. Most participants spoke English (55.4%) and the largest race/ethnic groups were White (40.2%) followed by Latinos (21.8%). Age distribution was as follows: 18–29 (22.9%), 30–39 (17.6%), and 40–49-year-olds (16.2%). For low-intensity smokers , in terms of race/ethnicity, Latino participants were less likely to be low-intensity smokers relative to non-smokers in comparison to White participants (RRR = .411, p = .043). For moderate-intensity smokers , education was statistically significant, with participants holding a graduate degree being significantly less likely to be moderate-intensity smokers relative to non-smokers in comparison to participants who had a HS degree (RRR = .068, p = .025). For high-intensity smokers , single participants were more likely to be high-intensity smokers compared to those married or living with a partner (RRR = 2.72, p = .011). In terms of age, only participants that were 30 to 39 years old were statistically significant, with this group more likely to be high-intensity smokers relative to non-smokers in comparison to participants who were 20 to 29 years of age (RRR = 3.40, p = .031). Conclusion: Findings suggest that one’s demographics characteristics does play a role in smoking consumption rates. Addressing disparities in smoking and cancer requires a multifaceted approach that includes policy changes, targeted interventions, and improved access to healthcare and smoking cessation resources. Hence, public health efforts should create evidence-based interventions and consider the social, economic, and cultural contexts of target populations to reduce disparities in smoking and cancer.

Citation Format: Salome Kapella Mshigeni, Anhthu Nguyen, Julian C Sacdalan, Elizabeth Pinder-McSwain, Felipe Aperador Tarazona. Assessing cigarette smoking intensity among California adults and the need for tailored interventions to reduce health disparities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A093.