Preinjury cigarette smoking among those with traumatic spinal cord injury

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Study assessed the prevalence of cigarette smoking at the time of spinal cord injury (SCI) onset compared to that of the general population in the same geographic area, and identified demographic, injury, behavioral, and psychological characteristics associated with cigarette smoking. Self-report assessments were completed by 524 patients during inpatient rehabilitation for new SCI. The prevalence of smokers at the time of SCI onset was 37.9 percent, substantially higher than the rate for those in the general population from the same geographic region (22.8 percent). Those who were smokers at SCI onset, on average, were older, had less education, were more likely to have consumed alcohol in the month prior to SCI onset, and had higher personality scores indicative of Impulsive/Sensation Seeking and Neuroticism/Anxiety. This study indicates that the rate of cigarette smoking at the time of SCI onset is elevated over the general population and is related to behavioral and psychological factors that may be important to consider with smoking cessation interventions.

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