Predictors of the participation of smoking parents in a proactive telephone-based smoking cessation program

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify the predictors of participation by smoking parents in a proactive telephone-based smoking cessation program. METHODS: The smoking parents of young children from a birth cohort were interviewed and invited to take part in a telephone-based smoking cessation program. The characteristics of the parents and the predictors of participation were analyzed by chi-square test and by logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 952 (82.9%) out of the 1149 smoking parents who were interviewed agreed to participate in the smoking cessation program. The analysis showed that the predictors of participation in a pro-active smoking cessation program are being from a middle-income household, being currently employed, having recently had a medical consultation or been hospitalized, being at the stage of contemplating a change in behavior, and perceiving the importance of quitting smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment approaches should be refined according to the identified factors to target those who might decline an invitation to participate in a smoking cessation program.