1.Tobacco Use Among Students Aged 13-15 Years in South Korea: The 2013 Global Youth Tobacco Survey.
Sunhye CHOI ; Yoonjung KIM ; Jihye LEE ; Mina KASHIWABARA ; Kyungwon OH
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health 2017;50(1):60-65
OBJECTIVES: We examined the prevalence of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke among middle-school students in Korea using the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in 2013. METHODS: The GYTS in Korea was conducted between July and August 2013 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data were collected using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire from a nationally representative sample of middle-school students aged 13-15 years in sampled classrooms. RESULTS: The GYTS in Korea was completed by 4235 students aged 13-15 years in 43 middle schools. Approximately one in five of the students (17.8%) reported that they had tried cigarettes in the past, while 5.2% reported currently being cigarette smokers. Current cigarette smoking was higher in boys (7.5%) than in girls (2.6%). Of the students, 29.7% had been exposed to secondhand smoke at home, 47.4% inside enclosed public places, and 53.9% in outdoor public places. Of the current cigarette smokers, 25.7% bought their cigarettes from a store despite a law prohibiting this. Additionally, 58.0% of students noticed point-of-sale tobacco advertisements or promotions, 66.8% of current cigarette smokers wanted to stop smoking, and 70.9% of students had been taught about the dangers of tobacco use in school. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide an opportunity to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive tobacco control policy. The results suggest that youth have relatively easy access to cigarettes and are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in public places, as well as to point-of-sale tobacco advertisements and promotions. Strict enforcement of the ban on tobacco sales to youth, expanding smoke-free areas, and advertising bans are needed to reduce tobacco use among youth.
Adolescent*
;
Anonyms and Pseudonyms
;
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
;
Commerce
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Jurisprudence
;
Korea*
;
Prevalence
;
Republic of Korea
;
Smoke
;
Smoking
;
Tobacco Products
;
Tobacco Smoke Pollution
;
Tobacco Use*
;
Tobacco*
2.Lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme
Damian Hoy ; A Mark Durand ; Thane Hancock ; Haley Cash ; Kate Hardie ; Beverley Paterson ; Yvette Paulino ; Paul White ; Tony Merritt ; Dawn Fitzgibbons ; Sameer Vali Gopalani ; James Flint ; Onofre Edwin Merilles Jr ; Mina Kashiwabara ; Viema Biaukula ; Christelle Lepers ; Yvan Souares ; Eric Nilles ; Anaseini Batikawai ; Sevil Huseynova ; Mahomed Patel ; Salanieta Saketa ; David Durrheim ; Alden Henderson ; Adam Roth
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2017;8(3):21-26
Problem: The Pacific region has widely dispersed populations, limited financial and human resources and a high burden of disease. There is an urgent need to improve the availability, reliability and timeliness of useable health data.
Context: The purpose of this paper is to share lessons learnt from a three-year pilot field epidemiology training programme that was designed to respond to these Pacific health challenges. The pilot programme built on and further developed an existing field epidemiology training programme for Pacific health staff.
Action: The programme was delivered in country by epidemiologists working for Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network partners. The programme consisted of five courses: four one-week classroom-based courses and one field epidemiology project. Sessions were structured so that theoretical understanding was achieved through interaction and reinforced through practical hands-on group activities, case studies and other interactive practical learning methods.
Outcome: As of September 2016, 258 students had commenced the programme. Twenty-six course workshops were delivered and one cohort of students had completed the full five-course programme. The programme proved popular and gained a high level of student engagement.
Discussion: Face-to-face delivery, a low student-to-facilitator ratio, substantial group work and practical exercises were identified as key factors that contributed to the students developing skills and confidence. Close engagement of leaders and the need to quickly evaluate and adapt the curriculum were important lessons, and the collaboration between external partners was considered important for promoting a harmonized approach to health needs in the Pacific.