Tobacco use among females is a rising public health issue. Further insight into the smoking epidemic can be gained from studying a specific subgroup of interest within the population. Determining predictors of each tobacco smoking type is necessary for planning tobacco specific intervention programmes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ever tobacco use and its associated socio-demographic factors among Saudi female adolescents aged 12 to 19 in Jeddah. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among female students from intermediate and high secondary schools in Jeddah during the academic year 2012-2013. Sampling with probability proportionate to size was used to select a sample of 5,150 students from 40 schools. The data were collected using validated self-administrated questionnaire that required information on tobacco use behaviours and selected socio-demographic characteristics. A total of 5,073 students participated in this study of whom 51.6% were from intermediate grades, and 83.1% from public schools. The prevalence of ever tobacco use was 44.2% (36.2% water pipe and 30.9% cigarettes). The significant predictors of ever tobacco use were student’s age, mother’s education, family structure, residence location and monthly student’s allowance. In conclusion, ever tobacco used is highly prevalent among female adolescents in Jeddah. Designing intervention programmes aimed at preventing Saudi female adolescents from smoking should include all forms of tobacco use.
Tobacco Use ; Smoking

Two hundred and seventy one original published materials related to tobacco use were found in a search through a database dedicated to indexing all original data relevant to Medicine and Health in Malaysia from 1996 - 2015. A total of 147 papers were selected and reviewed on the basis of their relevance and implications for future research. Findings were summarised, categorised and presented according to epidemiology, behaviour, clinical features and management of smoking. Most studies are cross-sectional with small sample sizes. Studies on smoking initiation and prevalence showed mixed findings with many small scale studies within the sub-groups. The majority of the studies were related to factors that contribute to initiation in adolescents. Nonetheless, there are limited studies on intervention strategies to curb smoking among this group. There is a lack of clinical studies to analyse tobacco use and major health problems in Malaysia. In addition, studies on the best treatment modalities on the use of pharmacotherapy and behavioural counselling have also remained unexplored. Reasons why smokers do not seek clinic help to quit smoking need further exploration. A finding on the extent of effort carried out by healthcare providers in assisting smokers to make quit attempts is not known. Studies on economic and government initiatives on policies and tobacco use focus mainly on the effects of cigarette bans, increased cigarettes taxes and the influence of the tobacco industry. Recommendations are given for the government to increase efforts in implementing smoke-free legislation, early and tailored interventions. Clinical studies in this area are lacking, as are opportunities to research on ways to reduce smoking initiation age and the most effective quit smoking strategies.
Smoking ; Tobacco Use

No abstract available.
Nicotine* ; Tobacco Use Cessation Products* ; Tobacco*

The major burden of tobacco related diseases is borne by developing countries. Tobacco cessation is an important step in preventing mortality and morbidity due to tobacco related diseases. The objective of the study was to assess the profile of tobacco users utilizing the services of the district anti tobacco cell in Bangalore. A cross sectional study was carried out in 2009. Total of 122 persons above 18 years old, current tobacco users and who were motivated to quit were interviewed by a trained medical social worker. Information about the socio-demographic profile of the clients, details of tobacco use and nicotine dependence levels using Fagerstrom score was collected. SPSS 16.0 software was used for data analysis. The results have been presented using descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests. The study population was comprised of exclusively males. The mean age was 34.9 years. Seventy four percent (73.8%) were smokers while 26% were users of smokeless tobacco products. Fagerstrom scores showed that majority of tobacco users (54% of smokers and 63% of smokeless tobacco users) had moderate to high nicotine dependence. Most of the clients were self-referred. The average pack years of tobacco use and the mean Fagerstrom score were higher in the physician referred group indicating that physicians have access to tobacco users who could benefit the most from tobacco cessation efforts. Clients attending tobacco cessation clinics tend to have moderate to high tobacco dependence. Health care providers need to put in more efforts to refer tobacco users to tobacco cessation services. Improved physician awareness could help in stepping up tobacco cessation efforts.
Tobacco Use Cessation ; Lobeline ; Smoking ; Tobacco Use Disorder

No abstract available.
Nicotine* ; Tobacco Use Cessation Products*

No abstract available.
Nicotine* ; Tobacco Use Cessation Products*

INTRODUCTION

Smoking is one of the biggest global public health problems. It is known that the use of tobacco can have detrimental effects on a person’s overall health. Thus, this study is geared towards determining the knowledge and attitude of medical residents about tobacco cessation.

The study determined the knowledge and attitudes of smoking cessation among VSMMC residents and assessed their understanding of the risks associated with tobacco use.

A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used employing an online survey of 171 medical residents from December 2022 to March 2023. An in-depth analysis of categorical variables related to demographic factors using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests was subsequently done.

Most have average knowledge and a good knowledge foundation about tobacco cessation. The majority, primarily aged 25 to 34, single are more knowledgeable about quitting smoking and its benefits as well as the women, although statistically not significant in proportion of the knowledge base. Approximately 69% were nonsmokers, and 87.7% lacked training in tobacco cessation. Only 8.2% demonstrated poor knowledge of smoking cessation, while 91.8% had average to good knowledge. Knowledge levels did not significantly differ based on demographics, smoking status, or training, except for residency type. Generally, they have a positive attitude towards tobacco cessation and agreed that it is part of their responsibility to assist and motivate patients. They recognized the positive impact on healthcare provider-patient relationships, and the minority felt discomfort counseling patients. Most believed in the availability of time to provide advice, and some acknowledged potential patient resistance or viewed quitting smoking as an individual choice.

The significant difference in knowledge based on residency type emphasizes the necessity for interventions to fill knowledge gaps and suggest areas for targeted educational interventions. The findings also underscore the importance of early education, as evidenced by the majority obtaining training during medical school.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to 1) find out the frequency of tobacco control intervention, barriers, and facilitators. 2) compare the differences in tobacco control intervention, barriers, and facilitators between oncology nurses and general nurses. METHOD: A sample was composed of 96 oncology nurses and 284 general nurses. The survey questionnaire was mailed out to nurses who were working at the randomly selected hospitals throughout the country. The questionnaire was adopted from the study of national survey on oncology nurse's tobacco interventions in United States by Sarnar, et al.(2000). RESULTS: Oncology nurses were found to provide tobacco control interventions more frequently comparing to the general nurses. "Patient not motivated to quit smoking", "Lack of time", "Lack of recognition/ rewards", were the most commonly identified barriers. "Patient wants to quit", "Adequate time", "Confidence in ability help people to stop smoking", were the most commonly identified facilitators. CONCLUSIONS: Although oncology nurses are in an important position in delivering tobacco interventions and providing resources, their participation in consistent delivery of a tobacco control intervention was less than desirable. To help nurses participate in the assessment of tobacco use and interventions for cessation, the development of educational program is necessary.
Postal Service ; Tobacco Use ; Tobacco* ; United States ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is a widely used six-item questionnaire. Its completion require a few minutes, but such time may be too much for busy clinicians and large epidemiologic surveys. The goals of this study was to compare the sensitivity and the specificity of Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) of high nicotine dependence. METHODS: The FTND was administered to 943 current smokers from a smoking-cessation clinic in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The HSI which combines two items of the FTND (the number of cigarettes per day and the time of the first cigarette of the day) was compared to the FTND. We measured cigarette per day, duration of smoking, and age of smoking initiation. RESULTS: A cutoff score equal or greater than 4 on the HSI detected a similar rate of nicotine dependence as a cutoff score equal or greater than 6 on the FTND. The HSI showed a sensitivity of 88.0% and a specificity of 86.5%. The concordance between the two instruments was high (kappa= 0.74). CONCLUSION: The HSI was proven to be very useful. If HSI had a proper validity, the HSI can be a good standard of high nicotine dependence for busy clinician and epidemiologists.
Nicotine ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Use Disorder

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to increase knowledge regarding the dangers associated with tobacco use, and decrease secondhand smoke exposure and tobacco use behaviors with an antitobacco messaging campaign among rural, medically underserved, blue-collar workers. METHODS: A quasiexperimental study was conducted with employees at two worksites. One worksite received the intervention, which consisted of nine different antitobacco messages. Baseline and follow-up surveys were conducted at each worksite to assess change in knowledge and behavior; the data were compared across the two worksites. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-two and 243 participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys at the intervention and comparison sites, respectively. A statistically significant difference was seen over time between the worksites on knowledge of the dangers of tobacco (p < 0.0001); the mean knowledge score increased at the intervention site, but remained unchanged at the comparison site. In general, nonsmokers at both worksites appeared to try to decrease exposure to secondhand smoke over the follow-up period. Repeated measures analysis indicated that there were no differences in motivation to quit (p = 0.81), interest in quitting (p = 0.40), thinking about quitting (p = 0.53), or several tobacco-use behaviors over time among smokers at the intervention and comparison worksites. There were slight increases over time in the proportion of smokers who do not allow smoking in their homes/vehicles at the intervention worksite, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Participants at the intervention worksite increased their knowledge regarding the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure. Among current tobacco users, the intervention appeared to increase family rules regarding secondhand smoke exposure in their homes and vehicles.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Motivation ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thinking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Tobacco Use ; Tobacco Use Cessation* ; Tobacco* ; Workplace