Table 3. Discretionary Spending Priorities Among Job-Seeking Smokers.
| Item | Rank, Mean (SD)a | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Tobaccob | 5.02 (3.32) | 4 |
| Nutritious food | 5.24 (3.56) | 4 |
| Transportation funds (eg, gasoline, bus fare)c | 5.65 (3.71) | 5 |
| Cellular telephonec | 5.70 (3.57) | 5 |
| Grooming care (eg, shave, haircut)c | 6.48 (3.48) | 6 |
| New clothingc | 6.73 (3.43) | 7 |
| Entertainment (eg, movies, magazines) | 7.22 (3.47) | 7 |
| Prescription medications | 7.47 (3.92) | 8 |
| Dental appointments | 7.66 (3.26) | 8 |
| Nonemergency medical appointments | 8.01 (3.61) | 9 |
| Gifts for others | 8.27 (3.33) | 9 |
| Alcohol or nonprescribed drugs | 8.67 (3.74) | 10 |
| Nicotine replacement therapyb | 8.87 (3.54) | 9 |
a
Possible rank values ranged from 1 (greatest priority) to 13 (lowest priority). Participants who were current smokers at baseline were asked to order items based on what they were most likely to purchase, assuming finite resources, using their discretionary funds, defined as money available after one's bills are paid. The items were presented in random order.
b
Items directly related to smoking.
c
Items directly related to job seeking.