Recent Awareness and Use of the Great American Smokeout and Variation across Socioeconomic Status, Age and Gender

The aim of this study was to investigate the current level of awareness and use of the Great American Smokeout (GASO) and the extent to which that may vary by lifetime smoking, socioeconomic status, age and gender. We hypothesized and found that the current levels of awareness and use were significantly less than the most recent reports available (over 13 years ago), and that awareness of the GASO was more likely in lifetime smokers, those with more education, and older age groups, but found no significant effect related to gender. The drop in awareness and use of the GASO was more than half and almost five times, respectively, compared to that of most recent previous reports. These findings highlight a critical need for more attention and resources to reinvigorate the GASO as a useful event for smokers.