Table 1

Demographic characteristics and tobacco-related factors of 457 male smokers in two groups

FC (N=117)FCF (N=340)p Value
Demographic characteristics
Age (years)
Mean (SD)
41.2 (10.0)41.0 (11.2)0.865
Age (years)
Number (%)
N (%)N (%)
 <3116 (13.7)64 (18.8)0.123
 31 to 4036 (30.8)113 (33.2)
 41 to 5046 (39.3)95 (27.9)
 >5019 (16.2)68 (20.0)
Marital status
 Married104 (88.9)297 (87.4)0.662
 Single or divorced13 (11.1)43 (12.6)
Educational level
 College and above74 (63.2)201 (59.1)0.431
 High school and below43 (36.8)139 (40.9)
Occupation
 Currently employed91 (77.8)277 (81.5)0.384
 Student/unemployed/retired/others26 (22.2)63 (18.5)
Family income per month (Yuan, US$1=¥6)
 <300043 (36.8)123 (36.2)0.955
 3000 to 600031 (26.5)95 (27.9)
 >600043 (36.8)122 (35.9)
Tobacco-related factors
Age at initiation of smoking (years)
 <1840 (34.2)113 (33.2)0.851
 ≥1877 (65.8)227 (66.8)
Cigarettes smoked on average daily (cig/day)
 ≥2074 (63.2)201 (59.1)0.711
 10 to 1933 (28.2)104 (30.6)
 <1010 (8.5)35 (10.3)
Smoking duration (years)
 <2046 (39.3)153 (45.0)0.285
 ≥2071 (60.7)187 (55.0)
Prior attempts to quit smoking
 027 (23.1)84 (24.7)0.723
 ≥190 (76.9)256 (75.3)
Fagerström test score
 Severe (6–10)53 (45.3)148 (43.5)0.569
 Moderate (4–5)32 (27.4)82 (24.1)
 Low (0–3)32 (27.4)110 (32.4)
Exhaled CO level at first visit (mean:12 ppm)
 ≥1260 (51.3)164 (48.2)0.570
 <1257 (48.7)176 (51.8)
Stage of quitting smoking
 Contemplation33 (28.2)76 (22.4)0.415
 Preparation40 (34.2)120 (35.3)
 Action44 (37.6)144 (42.4)
Perceived importance of quitting (mean score: 86)
 <8647 (40.2)139 (40.9)0.893
 ≥8670 (59.8)201 (59.1)
Perceived difficulty in quitting (mean score: 73)
 ≥7387 (74.4)179 (52.6)<0.001
 <7330 (25.6)161 (47.4)
Perceived confidence in quitting (mean score: 67)
 <6752 (44.4)158 (46.5)0.704
 ≥6765 (55.6)182 (53.5)
Expenditure on cigarettes per day, Yuan (mean: 20)
 <2061 (52.1)156 (45.9)0.243
 ≥2056 (47.9)184 (54.1)
Perceived health status at the first visit
 Fair/poor/very poor73 (62.4)232 (68.2)0.247
 Very good/good44 (37.6)108 (31.8)
Number of other smokers in household
 098 (83.8)273 (80.3)0.408
 ≥119 (16.2)67 (19.7)
Medical advice to quit36 (30.8)123 (36.2)0.290
Doctor-diagnosed tobacco-related chronic diseases62 (53.0)183 (53.8)0.876
Current drinkers82 (70.1)228 (67.1)0.545
Central obese68 (58.1)230 (67.6)0.062
Overweight/obese86 (73.5)264 (77.6)0.361
  • FC group, face-to-face counselling only; FCF group, face-to-face counselling plus follow-up telephone counselling.