Tobacco addiction and smoking cessation in Austrian migrants: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE Recent observations revealed substantial differences in smoking behaviour according to individuals' migration background. However, smoking cessation strategies are rarely tailored on the basis of a migration background. We aimed to determine whether smoking behaviour and preferences for smoking cessation programmes differ between Austrian migrant smokers and Austrian smokers without a migration background. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Recruitment and interview were performed at public places in Vienna, Austria. PARTICIPANTS The 420 smokers included: 140 Bosnian, 140 Turkish migrant smokers of the first or second generation, as well as 140 Austrian smokers without a migration background. METHODS We cross-sectionally assessed determinants of smoking behaviour and smoking cessation of every participant with a standardised questionnaire. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Determinants of smoking behaviour, willingness to quit smoking and smoking cessation. RESULTS Nicotine addiction expressed via the Fagerström score was significantly higher in smokers with a migration background versus those without (Bosnian migrant smokers 4.7 ± 2.5, Turkish migrant smokers 4.0 ± 2.0, Austrian smokers without a migration background 3.4 ± 2.3, p<0.0001). Bosnian and Turkish migrant smokers described a greater willingness to quit, but have had more previous cessation trials than Austrian smokers without a migration background, indicating an increased demand for cessation strategies in these study groups. They also participated in counselling programmes less often than Austrian smokers without a migration background. Finally, we found significant differences in preferences regarding smoking cessation programmes (ie, preferred location, service offered in another language besides German, and group rather than single counselling). CONCLUSIONS We found significant differences in addictive behaviour and cessation patterns between smokers with and without a migration background. Our results indicate a strong demand for adjusting cessation programmes to the cultural background.