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

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.

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

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

Graphic warning labels (GWLs) have been developed as a representative non-price policy to block such marketing. This study investigated the current state and effect of the global introduction of GWLs and examines the future tasks related to GWLs. We systematically reviewed literatures on GWL and a tobacco control strategy in the past fifteen years. The policy of enforcing GWLs has spread globally based on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. GWLs are more effective than text warnings and are implemented in over 70 countries. The policy has showed the impact of GWLs as a preventive effect on adolescents' smoking, inducement of smoking cessation, reduction in the amount of tobacco smoked, and reduction in smoking rates. The success of an anti-smoking policy can manifests itself as an effect of individual policies, the rise of tobacco prices, and the introduction of GWLs.
Health Policy ; Health Promotion ; Internationality* ; Marketing ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking* ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products* ; Tobacco Use

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

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Tobacco Craving Questionnaire (K-TCQ), a multidimensional, self report instrument evaluating tobacco craving in a population of current smokers. METHODS: The Korean version of TCQ was administered to 216 current cigarette smokers. RESULTS: The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the K-TCQ was high (0.95) which provided the evidence for the internal consistency. The test-retest reliability of K-TCQ was 0.66 (correlation coefficient, p<0.01). The correlation coefficients between the K-TCQ and each five VAS questionnaires were high (0.50-0.59, p<0.01). Inter-correlations of K-TCQ, VAS, FTQ, BDI, STAI-I and STAI-II were significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The Korean version of TCQ is a valid and reliable scale for evaluating tobacco craving.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Report ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products ; Tobacco Use Disorder

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine effects of smoking cessation program in large size company using motivational enhancement counseling. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was conducted. 72 workers in intervention group and 65 workers in control group participated in 7 large size companies. Smoking cessation program consisted of a campaign, smoking cessation education, and 6 weeks motivational enhancement counseling. The motivational enhancement counseling was tailored to the individual's stage of change. Stages of smoking behavior, smoking cessation rate, nicotine dependence, and confidence of smoking cessation were assessed after intervention. RESULTS: The results showed that intervention had a significant impact on improving stages of smoking behavior and smoking cessation rate, and impact on decreasing nicotine dependence, compared to those of a control group. CONCLUSION: The effects and feasibility of smoking cessation program including motivational enhancement counseling were revealed in the large size company. These results might provide information that can be used in improving cultures of smoking cessation for workers.
Counseling ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Use Disorder

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