How Social Care Beneficiaries in Poland Rate Relative Harmfulness of Various Tobacco and Nicotine-Containing Products.

Marek Milcarz,Kinga Polańska,Leokadia Bak-Romaniszyn,Dorota Kaleta

doi:10.3390/ijerph14091029

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine how social care beneficiaries rate the relative harmfulness of tobacco/nicotine-containing products compared to traditional cigarettes. This information is crucial for the development of effective tobacco control strategies targeting disadvantaged populations. The cross-sectional study covered 1817 respondents who were taking advantage of social aid services offered by the local social care institutions in the Piotrkowski district, via face-to-face interviews. The linear regression analysis indicated that relative to women, men consider slim cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes to be more harmful than traditional cigarettes (p < 0.05). The smokers of traditional cigarettes reported menthol cigarettes to be less harmful than traditional cigarettes, relative to the non-smokers (p = 0.05). The current results demonstrate that social care beneficiaries are not aware of the fact that some products are less harmful than others. Education concerning tobacco/nicotine products should include advice on how to reduce the adverse health effects of smoking (e.g., avoiding inhalation of combusted products), while driving the awareness that no nicotine-containing products are safe.

Highlights

There is no doubt whatsoever that tobacco is the leading cause of death and disability [1,2].While overall smoking rates among adults are slowly declining in Europe, disparities related to gender, race/ethnicity and socio-economic status (SES) persist [3]
The aim of the study was to examine how adult social care beneficiaries rate the relative harmfulness of tobacco products, including slim and menthol cigarettes, water pipes as well as e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, as compared to traditional cigarettes
The current study indicates a high prevalence of smoking among social care beneficiaries in the Piotrkowski district

Summary

Introduction

While overall smoking rates among adults are slowly declining in Europe, disparities related to gender, race/ethnicity and socio-economic status (SES) persist [3]. Smoking is directly correlated with income level and education. As the level of disadvantage increases, smoking rates increase [4]. 26% of adults from the United States of America (USA) who are below, and 14% of those who are at or above poverty level, smoke cigarettes [5]. In Poland, based on the data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, the highest prevalence of smoking is observed among the least educated groups—smoking prevalence in 2009–2010 was 42% among those who completed education of 9 years or less versus 25% among those with over 12 years of completed education [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion