OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the willingness to quit cigarette price among Korean male adults, and to examine he factors affecting the willingness to quit cigarette price. METHODS: The data was collected by a random digit dial telephone survey. 702 samples were analyzed by using ttests, ANOVA and OLS regression analysis. To estimate the willingness to quit cigarette price, smokers were asked dichotomous questions with open-ended follow-up and the starting point of the price was randomized by one of 5 bid prices elicited from a pilot study. RESULTS: The mean of the willingness to quit cigarette price was 4,287 Won per package, which was about 2,000 Won higher than the mean of the actual price the smokers now paid. About 41% of respondents were willing to quit smoking if the price of cigarette would be increased by 3,000 Won, and if the price would be increased by 20,000 Won, all respondents were willing to quit smoking. The factors associated with the willingness to quit cigarette price were the place of residence, the amount of smoking and the degree of exposure to smoking through the mass media. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that to get people to quit smoking, increasing the cigarette price would obviously be effective and much higher prices have a greater effect. Furthermore, to enlarge the effect of increased cigarette prices, providing more cessation programs to small towns, reducing the amount of smoking and decreasing or prohibiting advertisements of cigarettes and smoking in the mass media will be efficient.
Adult ; *Commerce ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Motivation ; Smoking/*economics/ethnology ; Smoking Cessation/*ethnology

AIMTo evaluate the association between selected potential socio-demographic and behavioral risk factors and infertility in Nigerian men.

METHODSThere were two groups in this study. One group consisted of 150 men with proven male infertility, and the other consisted of 150 fertile men with normal semen parameters. Both were matched for age, place of residence and key socio-demographic variables. They were compared for sexual history, past medical and surgical history, past exposures to sexually transmitted infections and treatment, past and current use of drugs as well as smoking and alcohol intake history.

RESULTSInfertile men were significantly more likely than fertile men to report having experienced penile discharge, painful micturition and genital ulcers, less likely to seek treatment for these symptoms and more likely to seek treatment with informal sector providers. Multivariate analysis showed that male infertility was significantly associated with bacteria in semen cultures, self-reporting of previous use of traditional medications and moderate to heavy alcohol intake, but not with smoking and occupational types.

CONCLUSIONINFERTILITY is associated with various proxies of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and poor healthcare-seeking behavior for STIs in Nigerian men.

Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; ethnology ; Case-Control Studies ; Culture ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; ethnology ; microbiology ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nigeria ; epidemiology ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; ethnology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; complications ; ethnology ; psychology ; Smoking ; ethnology

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*psychology ; *Awareness ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*ethnology ; Smoking/*adverse effects/*ethnology

Objective: To explore the relations between the prevalence of multiple chronic diseases and cigarette smoking behavior in the Chinese adults. Methods: Based on the results: from the 2013 Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (NCD Surveillance), 176 534 Chinese residents aged 18 years and above, covering 298 counties (districts) in 31 provinces, was randomly recruited, using the multi-stage stratified clustering sampling method. Information on demographics, cigarette smoking (status, quantity and period) was obtained through face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. Anthropometric data and blood samples were collected and properly stored for analysis. Results In total, 175 386 adults were included for statistical analyses, with 42.7% as males and 57.3% as females. The prevalence rates of hypertension, high total cholesterol and high triglycerides were 30.4%, 7.2% and 18.0% in male smokers, 35.6%, 14.0%, 10.3% and 15.9% in female smokers respectively, which were all higher than those in the respective non-smokers. Male smokers were found under lower risk on hypertension, but 19% higher on total glycerides when compared with non-smokers of the same sex(OR=1.19, 95%CI:1.10-1.30), when multiple risk factors were under control. Male current smokers with more than 20 cigarettes per day have 41% (OR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.28-1.55) higher risk of high TG than non-smokers. Female smokers presented 40% (OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.15-1.70) higher risk in high glycerides than the non-smokers. Specifically, women smoking longer than 20 years have 60% (OR=1.60, 95%CI: 1.31-1.95) higher risk of high TG than women smoking less than 20 years. Conclusions: Prevalence rates of certain chronic diseases were seen higher in smokers of both genders. People with longer history of smoking or being heavier smokers, appeared at advanced risk on developing chronic diseases.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian People ; Chronic Disease/ethnology* ; Cigarette Smoking/ethnology* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Factors ; Smoking Cessation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

INTRODUCTIONIn Singapore, the age-standardised event rates of myocardial infarction (MI) are 2- and 3-fold higher for Malays and Indians respectively compared to the Chinese. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and quantity of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and non-calcified plaques across these 3 ethnic groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a retrospective descriptive study. We identified 1041 patients (810 Chinese, 139 Malays, 92 Indians) without previous history of cardiovascular disease who underwent cardiac computed tomography for atypical chest pain evaluation. A cardiologist, who was blinded to the patients' clinical demographics, reviewed all scans. We retrospectively analysed all their case records.

RESULTSOverall, Malays were most likely to be active smokers (P = 0.02), Indians had the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.01) and Chinese had the highest mean age (P <0.0001). The overall prevalence of patients with non-calcified plaques as the only manifestation of sub-clinical coronary artery disease was 2.1%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CAC, mean CAC score or prevalence of non-calcified plaques among the 3 ethnic groups. Active smoking, age and hypertension were independent predictors of CAC. Non-calcified plaques were positively associated with male gender, age, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONThe higher MI rates in Malays and Indians in Singapore cannot be explained by any difference in CAC or non-calcified plaque. More research with prospective follow-up of larger patient populations is necessary to establish if ethnic-specific calibration of CAC measures is needed to adjust for differences among ethnic groups.

Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; ethnology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Diabetes Mellitus ; ethnology ; Dyslipidemias ; ethnology ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; ethnology ; India ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnostic imaging ; ethnology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Smoking ; ethnology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vascular Calcification ; diagnostic imaging ; ethnology

INTRODUCTIONSmoking is one of the leading preventable causes of death throughout the world and can lead to nicotine dependence, particularly when initiated at a young age. This paper describes the prevalence of smoking and nicotine dependence in the adult Singapore resident population, whilst also exploring rates among the major ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay and Indian), different education levels and those with chronic psychiatric and physical comorbidities.

MATERIAL AND METHODSThe Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) is a cross-sectional epidemiological study that was conducted between December 2009 and December 2010. Information on smoking status was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (CIDI 3.0) and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence measured nicotine dependence. Socio-demographic information was also collected.

RESULTSIn total, 6616 respondents participated in the SMHS giving a response rate of 75.9%. We found that 16% of the population were current smokers and 4.5% had nicotine dependence. Current smokers were more likely to be younger (18 to 34 years old), males, Malay and have lower education, whilst males had a 4.6 times higher risk of nicotine dependence to that of females. The prevalence of nicotine dependence was also higher in those with alcohol abuse and those experiencing chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONThe results from this study highlight the important differences in the prevalence of smoking and nicotine dependence among different age groups, gender and ethnicity in Singapore and are important for developing future health policies and targeted preventive strategies.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; ethnology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Educational Status ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Indonesia ; ethnology ; Malaysia ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nicotine ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Smoking ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Smoking Prevention ; Substance-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; prevention & control ; Young Adult

Objective: To evaluate the association of family history with risk of major coronary events (MCE) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: After excluding participants with heart disease, stroke or cancer at baseline survey, a total of 485 784 participants from the China Kadoorie Biobank, who had no missing data on critical variables, were included in the analysis. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CI. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the baseline characteristics. Results: During a median of 7.2 years of follow-up, we documented 3 934 incident cases of MCE and 24 537 cases of IHD. In multivariable-adjusted models, family history was significantly associated with risk of MCE and IHD. The adjusted HRs (95%CI) were 1.41 (1.19-1.65) and 1.25 (1.18-1.33), respectively. History of disease among siblings was more strongly associated with early-onset MCE than parental history (HR=2.97, 95%CI: 1.80-4.88). Moreover, the association of family history with MCE and IHD was stronger in persons who were overweight or obesive, and the association between family history and MEC was stronger in smokers. Conclusion: This large-scale, prospective study indicated that family history was an independent risk factor for MCE and IHD in China. The intervention targeting major known lifestyle risk factors and the management of chronic diseases should be strengthened for Chinese population, especially for the individuals with family history were at high risk.
Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Coronary Disease/genetics* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Ischemia/genetics* ; Overweight/ethnology* ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/ethnology*

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the relevant factors and prostate cancer among Hui and Han populations.

METHODSThe study involved 267 prostate cancer patients as cases (214 cases from Han population and 53 cases from Hui population) and 534 prostatic hyperplasia patients as controls (428 cases from Han population and 106 cases from Hui population). All the patients were collected from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University during January of 2007 to September of 2013. The level of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), total prostate specific antigen (T-PSA), free prostate specific antigen (F-PSA) and free/total prostate specific antigen (F/T-PSA) were collected from the clinical medical records of the patients. Data were analyzed by the conditional logistic regression method, and attributable risk proportion(ARP) was calculated.

RESULTSIn Hui population, the risk of prostate cancer for drinkers was 20.48 times higher than the non-drinkers (35.8% (19/53) to 5.7% (6/106), OR = 20.48, 95% CI: 4.95-84.66). The high level of F-PSA significantly increased the risk of prostate cancer for Hui group (83.0% (44/53) to 55.7% (59/106), OR = 4.27, 95%CI: 1.18-15.43). In contrast, the high TG level decreased the risk of prostate cancer for Hui group (18.9% (10/53) to 20.8% (22/106), OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.83). In Han population, the risk of prostate cancer for smokers was 1.89 times higher than the non-smokers (55.1% (118/214) to 39.7% (170/428), OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.28-2.78). Either high level of T-PSA or F-PSA increased the risk of prostate cancer for Han group (86.4% (185/214) to 53.7% (230/428),OR = 2.34, 95%CI:1.22-4.52;85.5% (183/214) to 56.1% (240/428), OR = 2.43, 95% CI:1.29-4.59). However, the high TG level or high ratio of F/T-PSA decreased the risk of prostate cancer (15.4% (33/214) to 18.7% (80/428), OR = 0.59, 95% CI:0.36-0.98; 53.3% (114/214) to 73.4% (314/428), OR = 0.53, 95% CI:0.36-0.78). The APRs of drinking and high level of F-PSA in Han populations were 66.6%, 62.4% in Hui populations , and the APRs of smoking and high level of T-PSA, high level of F-PSA were 33.8%, 71.3%, 67.3% in Han populations.

CONCLUSIONBoth drinking and high level of F-PSA might be the risky factors of prostate cancer while the high TG level might be protective factor for Hui group. However, for Han population, smoking, high T-PSA level, and high F-PSA level might be risky factors for prostate cancer while the high TG level and high ratio of F/T-PSA might be protective factors. In summary, the clinical relevant factors of prostate cancer may play different roles between Hui and Han populations in Ningxia region.

Alcoholic Beverages ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; ethnology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: The present study was intended to compare difference in research variables between delinquent adolescents and student adolescents, and to analyze discriminative factors of delinquent behaviors among Korean adolescents. METHODS: The research design of this study was a questionnaire survey. Questionnaires were administered to 2,167 adolescents (1,196 students and 971 delinquents), sampled from 8 middle and high school and 6 juvenile corrective institutions, using the proportional stratified random sampling method. Statistical methods employed were Chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The discriminative factors of delinquent behaviors were smoking, alcohol use, other drug use, being sexually abused, viewing time of media violence and pornography. Among these discriminative factors, the factor most strongly associated with delinquency was smoking (odds ratio: 32.32). That is, smoking adolescent has a 32-fold higher possibility of becoming a delinquent adolescent than a non-smoking adolescent. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings, that smoking was the strongest discriminative factor of delinquent behavior, suggest that educational strategies to prevent adolescent smoking may reduce the rate of juvenile delinquency. Antismoking educational efforts are therefore urgently needed in South Korea.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/*ethnology ; Adolescent Psychology ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Child Abuse, Sexual/ethnology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Discriminant Analysis ; Erotica/psychology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Family/ethnology ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Juvenile Delinquency/*ethnology/prevention & control/statistics & numerical data ; Korea/epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mass Media ; Questionnaires ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/adverse effects/ethnology ; Students/psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Substance-Related Disorders/complications/ethnology ; Violence/ethnology

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cigarette smoking is the most common risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies of the attitudes toward COPD of smokers, the group at risk of developing this condition, have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of and attitudes toward COPD of current smokers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 502 individuals aged 45 and older from throughout Korea who smoked at least 10 packs of cigarettes per year. Telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted with respondents. RESULTS: First, we evaluated the health status of subjects, finding that 45.4% considered themselves to be in good health. We also asked about COPD-related symptoms, and 60.6% of subjects reported such symptoms. However, only 1.2% of subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for COPD, only 0.4% spontaneously mentioned COPD as a respiratory disease, and only 26.5% recognized COPD as a respiratory disease after seeing a list of such diseases. Television ranked as the top source of information about COPD. The willingness of 45.0% of subjects to stop smoking increased after being informed about COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Despite having COPD-related symptoms, most smokers did not know that COPD is a respiratory disease. The attitudes of smokers toward COPD and smoking cessation varied according to socioeconomic status. In summary, a continuous effort to increase the awareness of COPD among smokers is needed. Additionally, strategies tailored according to different socioeconomic groups will also be necessary.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*psychology ; *Awareness ; Consumer Health Information ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Media ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance/ethnology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/*ethnology/psychology/therapy ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Smoking/*adverse effects/*ethnology/prevention & control/psychology ; Smoking Cessation/ethnology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors