This report presents data on smokers' beliefs about their chances of avoiding disease by quitting smoking. Data were obtained from a telephone survey conducted from January through April 1989 of a random sample of 4351 smokers aged 25-64 years. Eighty-five percent of smokers disagreed that little health benefit exists from quitting for a person who has smoked greater than 20 years. For both items, beliefs about the benefits of quitting varied by age and education but not by sex. Although most of the public is aware of the health risks associated with smoking and the health benefits of smoking cessation, smokers tend to be less aware of these risks and benefits, and sizable gaps in public knowledge persist in certain sociodemographic groups.
Educational level appears to be the best sociodemographic predictor of smoking behavior.
Future antismoking campaigns need to be more sensitive to educational status when defining messages and selecting communication channels. Knowledge of the benefits of smoking cessation was lowest in smokers aged 55-64 years who had no college education. Thus, greater attention must be directed at informing this group about the health benefits of quitting smoking. It's never to late to quit smoking. The program is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, the Administration on Aging, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Fox Chase Cancer Center.