RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether rulers of importance, readiness and confidence (IRC) in quitting smoking could be used to identify subgroups of smokers, with the future goal of potentially tailoring interventions to specific readiness profiles. METHODS: Consecutive emergency department patients ≥18 years old were considered for enrolment. Participants provided information on their tobacco use and motivation to quit smoking using 10-point IRC rulers. We used latent profile analysis on the IRC rulers to identify subgroups of smokers and examined associations between profile membership and participant's nicotine dependence and demographics. RESULTS: A total of 1549 patients were screened, yielding a sample of 609 tobacco users. According to statistical fit indices, a four-profile solution fits best: 32% displayed maximum importance and readiness with strong confidence, 43% of the sample displayed relatively average levels of all three variables, 17% displayed below average importance with least favourable readiness and confidence and 7% displayed least favourable importance and readiness but relatively high confidence. Profiles were then shown to differ on nicotine dependence and educational level. CONCLUSIONS: Four distinct profiles of IRC responses were observed. Identifying and describing these patterns has the potential to enhance future targeted intervention efforts and has implications for theory development.