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. 2003 May 17;326(7398):1061.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.326.7398.1061.

Prevalence of hardcore smoking in England, and associated attitudes and beliefs: cross sectional study

Martin J Jarvis  1 , Jane Wardle, Jo Waller, Lesley Owen
Affiliations

Prevalence of hardcore smoking in England, and associated attitudes and beliefs: cross sectional study

Martin J Jarvis et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the prevalence and characteristics of hardcore smokers in England.

Design: Cross sectional survey.

Setting: Interview in respondents' household.

Participants: 7766 adult cigarette smokers.

Main outcome measures: Hardcore smoking defined by four criteria (less than a day without cigarettes in the past five years; no attempt to quit in the past year; no desire to quit; no intention to quit), all of which had to be satisfied.

Results: Some 16% of all smokers were categorised as hardcore. Hardcore smoking was associated with nicotine dependence, socioeconomic deprivation, and age, rising from 5% in young adults aged 16-24 to 30% in those aged >or= 65 years. Hardcore smokers displayed distinctive attitudes towards and beliefs about smoking. In particular they were likely to deny that smoking affected their health or would do so in the future. Prevalence of hardcore smoking was almost four times higher than in California.

Conclusion: Hardcore smoking presents a serious challenge to public health efforts to reduce the prevalence of smoking, but the proportion of hardcore smokers does not necessarily increase as overall prevalence in a population declines. More hardcore smokers could be persuaded to quit, but this will require interventions that are targeted to the particular needs and perceptions of both socially disadvantaged and older smokers.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of hardcore smoking by age and sex: England 1994-7
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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