Demographic factors and rural residence history associated with smoking history.
Tyra Reed, Destiny Gordon, Brenda W Dyal and 7 others
PMID 41733483WHAT IT FOUND
Smoking history was more common in men, adults aged 31 to 50, and women who had lived in rural areas.
Rural living was not linked to smoking history in men. Race was not linked to smoking history once other factors were considered.
Key findings
01Women reported no smoking history more often (63%), and men reported a smoking history more often (61%).
02Rural residence history was linked to smoking history among women (46% with rural living experience had smoking history compared with 33% without) but not among men (62% compared with 61%).
03The middle age group reported a smoking history more often than the younger and older groups (65% compared with 32% and 43%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This was a cross-sectional survey, so it cannot show that age, sex, race, or rural residence history caused a change in smoking history. The outcome was lifetime smoking history, defined as smoking 100 cigarettes in a lifetime, not current smoking, smoking amount, quit attempts, or use of alternative tobacco products. The samples were convenience and panel-based, and the proportion of smokers was higher than national estimates, so prevalence may not represent all U.S. adults. Rural residence history was captured only by a yes-or-no question about living or currently living in a rural, farming, or farm place, so it did not measure adherence to rural identity. The researchers did not know whether some respondents were cancer center patients, which could introduce bias.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read rural residence history as proof that living in rural areas causes smoking history. This was a cross-sectional survey, and the sex-specific analysis found an association among women but not men.