Changes in cigarette smoking after traumatic spinal cord injury.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify changes in the prevalence of cigarette smoking approximately 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation for spinal cord injury (SCI). Method: Self-report assessments were completed by 129 participants with SCI during initial inpatient rehabilitation and at an average follow-up of 489 days postinjury. Results: The prevalence of cigarette smoking declined from 36.4% at the time of SCI onset to 18.8%, and was not significantly different from the general population at follow-up. Conclusions: Whereas the prevalence of cigarette smoking is elevated at SCI onset, there are significant decreases in the smoking rate over the first 16 months after onset, indicating significant behavioral change.