High prevalence of tobacco-related risky behaviors among amateur rugby players, coaches and referees: It is time to act!

Abstract

High prevalence of smoking has been documented in France and new worrying patterns of tobacco and nicotine consumption are emerging, especially in some sports. We addressed tobacco consumption and their related-risk knowledge across the whole spectrum of amateur rugby practice in a French region, i.e. players (P), coaches(C) and referees (R). All the amateur P [> 12 − y/o], C and R licensed in the French Rugby Federation and participating in the Burgundy amateur championship were invited to answer to an electronic anonymous questionnaire during the 2017–2018 sport season. Among the 683 [sex ratio M/F = 0.9] responders, most (82%) were P, 24%, were C and 11% were R. They were ex-SM (14%), or current smokers (CS) (26%), of whom 18% were daily CS, and 37% usual CS (i.e. > 10 cigarettes a day). Prevalence of CS trended to be higher in F (37%) than in M (25%), ( P = 0.096) and was lower before 18 y/o (10%) than after (30%), ( P < 0.0001). Of note, current smoking was frequent in C (28%) and R (32%). Most declared smoking 2 h before/after a rugby session (P/C/R (86%/89%/89%)). Although 62% of CS planned quitting, only 25% considered vaping as an aid to quit. Only 4% usually vaped, including 2% daily, of whom most (75%) vaped < 2 h before or after a rugby session. Other nicotine products were infrequent: waterpipe (7), or dry snuff (1) (none used snus). Some (5%) were unaware that smoking is harmful and 2% thought it was not. Lack of knowledge on the higher risk of smoking 2 h before/after sport was common (36%/29%, respectively). Moreover, almost ¼ of C were unaware on the risk of smoking before/after a sport session (27% and 19%, respectively). Prevalence of smoking is high in the French rugby amateurs, and usually consumed in the era of rugby sessions (2 hours before/after). The low level of risk knowledge is also of great concern, especially when considering coaches and referees as a models and teachers.