Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 31 May 2012 - 12:00 PDT
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'Are Men Better At Quitting Smoking Than Women? Researchers Say No'
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According to research published online in Tobacco Control, there is "no convincing evidence" that men are better than women at quitting smoking. 
Claims that women are less likely to successfully stop smoking are not true. If they were, it would have significant implications on strategies to help people kick the habit. The rumor that men are more successful than women when it comes to quitting smoking is largely based on trial data on smoking cessation aids that demonstrate higher success rates in men.
The researchers used data from the US Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, and the UK General Household Survey that were conducted from 2006 to 2007, and included data on over 102,000 smokers.


The results of all three countries proved similar with consistent patterns. Women under the age of 50 years tended to be more likely to successfully quit smoking than men, which appeared particularly evident in women in the 20s and 30s year age bracket. However, amongst older people the trend was reversed, with more men over 60 likely to quit than women. The researchers state that it could be possible that this may simply reflect a higher mortality rate from smoking in older men.
The percentage of U.S. and Canadian women who stopped smoking was higher when continuing users of smokeless tobacco were excluded and those who had stopped smoking for more than a year were included, i.e. slightly more than 50% of US women and slightly more than 46.5% of US men compared with slightly more than 46% of Canadian women and 43% of Canadian men. The figures for the UK were not available. 


An evaluation across all age groups in each location only showed a distinct difference between successfully stopping to smoke between both sexes in the US. 


Some possible explanations for any discrepancies between the trial data and the survey findings could be that most successful quitters chose not to seek formal help as well as that more women seem to enroll in treatment programs than men. Furthermore, young women tend to be under represented in clinical trials. 


The researchers explain that evidence taken from the general population is more accurate than that taken from examples of clinical trials, saying: "Our study has found convincing evidence that men in general are not more likely to quit smoking successfully than women. The myth of female disadvantage at quitting smoking is bad, first and foremost, for women."
However, they add that it is also bad for men who may think they have an unfair advantage and for healthcare professionals and policy makers whose aim is helping people to quit smoking.
In a concluding statement they write: "It is bad for gender stereotypes in a world where inaccurate stereotypes are rife...It is time to put aside the idea that women are less successful than men at giving up smoking."


Written By Petra Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Martin J Jarvis, Joanna E Cohen, Cristine D Delnevo, Gary A Giovino
Tobacco Control, May 2012, doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050279
MLA
Petra Rattue. "Are Men Better At Quitting Smoking Than Women? Researchers Say No." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 31 May. 2012. Web.
31 May. 2012. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246059.php>
APA
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246059.php.
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'Are Men Better At Quitting Smoking Than Women? Researchers Say No'
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