Regular Smokers Research Articles

Smoking Habits and Attitudes toward Smoking in Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Residential Facilities in Insular Greece.

Smoking may contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The objective of the present study is to explore the attitudes toward smoking in patients with severe mental illness in residential rehabilitation facilities in insular Greece. The patients (n = 103) were studied with the use of a questionnaire based on a semi-structured interview. Most of the participants (68.3%) were current regular smokers, had been smoking for 29 years and started smoking at an early age. The majority (64.8%) reported having tried to quit smoking in the past, and only half had been advised by a physician to quit. The patients agreed on the rules for smoking and believed that the staff should avoid smoking in the facility. The years of smoking were statistically significantly correlated to the educational level and the treatment with antidepressant medication. A statistical analysis showed that longer stay period in the facilities correlates with current smoking, an effort to quit and increased belief that smoking causes harm to health. Further research on the attitudes of patients in residential facilities toward smoking is needed, which could guide interventions for smoking cessation and should be assumed by all health professionals who are involved in the care of those patients.

Genetic predisposition to smoking in relation to the risk of frailty in ageing

Frailty causes emerging global health burden due to its high prevalence and mortality. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to examine the potential causal relationship between smoking and frailty in ageing. Using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, genetically predicted smoking initiation was associated with an increased risk of frailty in ageing (odd ratio (OR) 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–1.27, P = 3.21 × 10–39). Similarly, per year increase in age of initiation of regular smoking was associated with a 25% decrease in the risk of frailty (95% CI 7–39%, P = 7.79 × 10–3, per year), while higher number of cigarettes per day was associated with a 12% increased risk (95% CI 4–20%, P = 1.76 × 10–3). Compared with former smokers, current smokers were associated with an increased risk of frailty (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02–1.22, P = 0.01). Lifetime smoking was associated with a 46% higher risk of frailty (95% CI 37–56%, P = 2.63 × 10–29). Sensitivity analysis using alternative MR methods yielded similar results. Our study indicates that genetic predisposition to smoking is associated with the risk of frailty in ageing. Further studies are warranted to examine the exact role of smoking in the development of frailty.

What a lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus but higher incidence of dyslipidemia in smokers

Background: We tried to understand whether or not there is a relationship between smoking and diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Current regular smokers for the last six months and age and sex-matched non-smokers were included. Patients with current alcohol consumption (one drink a day) and patients with malignancies or inflammatory, infectious, or devastating disorders were excluded. Results: The study included 247 smokers and 167 non-smokers. The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of smokers were 46.2 years and 26.6 kg/m2, respectively, and 70.0% of them were male. Although the mean weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and hematocrit values were similar in both groups, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and DM were lower in the smokers (102.3 versus 111.6 mg/dL, p=0.007 and 8.9% versus 14.3%, p<0.05, respectively). Similarly, high density lipoproteins (HDL) were lower in the smokers, again (40.9 versus 44.0 mg/dL, p<0.05). On the other hand, triglycerides (163.1 versus 151.3 mg/dL, p<0.05) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) (123.8 versus 117.5 mg/dL, p<0.05) were higher in the smokers. Parallel to triglycerides and LDL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (10.6 versus 9.3 mm/h, p<0.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (2.3 versus 2.0 mg/L, p<0.05) were also higher in them. Conclusion: Smoking-induced low-grade inflammation on vascular endothelium in whole body may terminate with the endothelial dysfunction, accelerated atherosclerosis, end-organ insufficiencies, early aging, and premature death. FPG and HDL may be negative whereas triglycerides, LDL, ESR, and CRP positive acute phase reactants terminating with lower prevalence of DM but higher incidence of dyslipidemia in smokers. Key words: Smoking, fasting plasma glucose, diabetes mellitus, high density lipoproteins, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, dyslipidemia

PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS IN AL-MADINAH AL-MUNAWARAH, KSA 2021

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease among patients in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah caused by a deficiency in insulin production in the pancreas. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. Some sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, job, and education contribute to these psychological disorders. So, this problem seeks research to determine the anxiety among the diabetic patients of Al-Madinah.This study investigates the prevalence and predictors of anxiety among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. In addition, this research aims to explore the effect of anxiety on glycaemic control in diabetic patients.This is based on a cross-sectional study in which only the patients of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah primary health care centers are investigated to collect the data.Data entry and statistical analysis are performed with SPSS version 25, while the significance difference equal to or smaller than 0.05 is used to determine statistical significance in the conducted research. Results are given in three different tables, including socioeconomic data, clinical data, and predictors of anxiety and depression in diabetes patients. In conclusion, diabetes affects your lifestyle and causes many issues, such as anxiety. This anxiety can lead to many other diseases, such as harmful eating habits, lack of regular exercise, smoking, and weight gain. If more problems control the patients sugar level, it indicates that the patient suffers from anxiety.

Smoking and coronary artery disease risk in patients with diabetes: A Mendelian randomization study.

Previous observational studies have shown an association between smoking and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes. Whether this association reflects causality remains unestablished. This study aimed to explore the causal effect of smoking on CAD in patients with diabetes. Genetic signatures for smoking were extracted from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS), consisted of up to 1.2 million participants. Four smoking phenotypes were included: smoking initiation, cigarettes per day, age at initiation of regular smoking, and smoking cessation. Genetic associations with CAD in patients with diabetes were extracted from another GWAS, which included 15,666 participants (3,968 CAD cases and 11,696 controls). The analyses were performed using the univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) method. MR analysis revealed that smoking initiation was positively related to CAD risk in patients with diabetes (OR = 1.322, 95% CI = 1.114 - 1.568, P = 0.001), but this association was attenuated when adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors (OR = 1.212, 95% CI = 1.008 - 1.457, P = 0.041). Age at initiation of regular smoking was negatively related to CAD in patients with diabetes (OR = 0.214, 95% CI = 0.070 - 0.656, P = 0.007), but this association became insignificant when adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. This study supported the effect of smoking initiation on the risk of CAD in patients with diabetes.

Perceptions, insights, and attitudes (P.I.A.) of selected filipino female physicians on cardiovascular risks and diseases

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction In 2012, coronary heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for more than 31% of deaths from all causes. In 2020, PH statistics showed that ischemic heart diseases were the leading causes of death in the Philippines (PH), responsible for 17.3% of the total deaths. Objective To determine the knowledge, perceptions, insights and attitudes on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, personal health-related lifestyle practices, and lifestyle counseling practices of selected female physicians who are practicing or training in the PH through an online survey. Methods A descriptive ambispective cross-sectional study where the survey questionnaire of Ameh, et al. (2019) was modified with the authors' permission, was conducted online and answered by consenting female physicians. 484 participants’ data were collated and analyzed. Results Majority had accurate responses for the CVD prevention knowledge items (Figures 1 and 2). Among the participants, 36.98% had hypertension, 32% were obese, 28.5% had dyslipidemia, and 17.2% had diabetes mellitus. Sleep of 6-8 hours is practiced by 60.33%, 53.51% eat vegetables and fruits daily, 55.79% prefer fish and seafood, 89.05% do not smoke, 61.2% take coffee or black tea daily, 84.51% have no regular exercise, and 30.79% of those who do only exercise for 10-20 minutes. Moreover, 67.98% add salt, soy or fish sauce to their meals, and 72.73% do not drink enough water daily. In addition, 44.42% do not undergo annual general check-up and 58.06% do not have a personal physician. Limitations due to COVID-19 pandemic, lack of education, and expensive screening tests are perceived to be major barriers to CVD screening. More than 90% of our participants practice health teachings on diabetes mellitus prevention, high blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening and management, nutrition, and weight management. Counseling on regular exercise, smoking, and alcohol abuse are being practiced by 88.02%, 85.74%, and 83.88% of our respondents, respectively. Conclusion There are female physicians who are not aware of the World Health Organization’s recommendations on the prevention of CVD, who do not do health teaching and counseling, and who practice unhealthy lifestyle. Changing physicians’ knowledge and behavior towards CVD prevention is a great challenge to improve standards of CVD prevention. Improvement and enhancement in education of both physicians and patients, together with more consultation time, financing for CVD prevention, and comprehensive, multidisciplinary preventive cardiology programs supported by government and societies in favor of prevention are some of the best ways to improve management of CVD risk factors and prevention.

Use of tobacco and e-cigarettes among youth in Great Britain in 2022: Analysis of a cross-sectional survey.

Although e-cigarettes can be an effective form of nicotine substitution for adults attempting to quit smoking, their use among children and young people is a concern. Accurate data about this are needed to inform debates over policy and regulation in the UK and elsewhere. Using data from an online survey of 2613 youth aged 11-18 years, conducted by the market research company YouGov in March 2022, we present prevalence estimates of e-cigarette and tobacco use. We use logistic regression models to assess differences in e-cigarette use, tobacco use and use of disposable e-cigarettes across a range of covariates including age, sex, tobacco smoking status, social class, and country. Among the 18.0% of those surveyed who reported ever having smoked a cigarette, 83.9% were not regular (at least once per week) smokers and 16.1% were (15.1% and 2.9% of the total sample, respectively). Among the 19.2% of those surveyed who had ever used an e-cigarette, 79.2% were not regular users, while 20.8% were (15.2% and 4.0% of the total sample, respectively). Regular e-cigarette use was more common than regular tobacco smoking (4.0% vs 2.9%). E-cigarette use was more common among those who also smoked tobacco, with 9.0% of never e-cigarette users ever smoking tobacco, compared with 89.4% of regular e-cigarette users. Both smoking and e-cigarette use were associated with increasing age and use by others within the home, but not with social class. Use of disposable e-cigarettes was reported by 53.8% of those who have ever used an e-cigarette, and more common among females than males. Regular e-cigarette use is now more common than smoking in children and youth, though the majority of this is among those who have also smoked tobacco. Measures to reduce the appeal of both e-cigarettes and tobacco to children and young people are warranted.

Differential effects of left and right insula inhibition on craving and cognitive control in regular smokers – a research proposal

Differential effects of left and right insula inhibition on craving and cognitive control in regular smokers – a research proposal

Expectations as a Factor of Tobacco Smoking Initiation in Youth

Introduction: Disappointing statistics of the World Health Organization on the growing number of new smokers, including those choosing electronic nicotine delivery systems, requires studies of both social factors and intrinsic subjective motivation to start smoking, where the main role is played by expectations of young people. The article discusses expectations of youth from smoking initiation and those from regular cigarette smoking. It also describes reported expectations and concomitant factors that preceded the initiation of smoking. Objective: To study the impact of expectations of young adults on smoking initiation. Materials and methods: An online survey of young people was conducted in January – May 2021 in the city of Khimki, Moscow Region, using Google Forms. All respondents were regular smokers (n = 360, 17–24 years of age; confidence level: 5 %, confidence interval: 95 %; criterion sampling). The study of youth expectations was retrospective and accurate enough in assessing subjective expectations from smoking initiation. Nonparametric statistics (Spearman’s rank correlation) was used for data analysis. Results: The main reason for initiation of tobacco smoking is a social factor confirming expectations of “feeling like an adult” (78.3 %) in young smokers with the support of friends, where smoking in the company of peers prevails over other occasions of tobacco use (76.6 %). Smoking among young people with little experience is attributed to social dependence, and, above all, social expectations. Consequently, 30.0 % of young adults have a significant potential for quitting smoking. A high social significance of the peers’ perception of the fact of starting smoking as a way to emphasize the overcoming of negative physical expectations was also confirmed. Positive expectations from smoking, such as relaxation and emancipation, significantly exceed negative ones (discomfort and malaise). Conclusions: Expectations have proved to be a determining factor in initiation of tobacco smoking among young people, which requires a change in the social component of smoking prevention techniques by bringing it to the level of the national idea of a healthy lifestyle (activity and longevity).

Setting up and assessing a therapeutic education program for asthmatic patients.

Asthma is a major public health issue. It remains uncontrolled, despite the availability of effective treatments. Appropriate education programs are required to improve the situation. The study aims to design and assess an educational program based on asthma patients' perceived needs. A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in the pulmonology department of the Hassan II University Hospital in Fez. A convenience sample of asthma patients, whether hospitalized or not, was recruited. Two hundred and twenty adult asthma patients completed an educational needs survey (ENS). An asthma knowledge questionnaire for adult patients was used to assess the program on the criterion of improving asthma knowledge. Data collected by ENS was analyzed by standard descriptive statistics. The Student's T test for paired samples was used to compare the means of the Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire scores before and after therapeutic education. Most patients were married and residing in urban areas. The illiteracy rate was 50%. One patient was a regular smoker. 125 patients (56.82%) reported non-compliance to treatment. The pathophysiology of asthma (chronic airway inflammation, bronchial hyperreactivity, and bronchial obstruction), causes and complications, treatment (inhalation technique), asthma attacks and environmental management, lifestyle, and psychological support were the patients' main perceived educational needs. Based on these findings, an instructional program was created and evaluated with 30 patients. After the program, asthma knowledge increased significantly. Our results suggest that an educational intervention can improve asthma knowledge.

Motivations for Smoking Among Hungarian Police Students

Introduction: Police officers’ job is one of the most stressful professions. Job stress, unpredictability, and physical strain can increase the prevalence of smoking among police officers. Investigating the motivations behind smoking stands, therefore, as a critical question, especially in high-risk populations, like police officers. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the smoking motivations of Hungarian police students. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional approach, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey among Hungarian police students between January and April, 2022. The study sample (N = 270) consisted of 57.4% male (n = 155) and the average age of students was 21.8 years (SD = 2.13). The survey examined smoking status, frequency and intensity of smoking. Smoking intensity is generally based on self-reported average cigarettes per day. The Substance Use Coping Inventory (SUI) was used to examine motivational attitudes. Results: The lifetime prevalence of smoking among police students reached 77.0%. Female police students were more likely to have tried smoking than males, however, the difference was not significant (p = .114). Among current smokers, male police students demonstrated higher scores than female police students in both the self-confidence motives (p = .009) and boredom relief motives (p = .010). When comparing regular and occasional smokers, we found significant differences in all motivational scales, except for social motivators. However, logistic regression results indicate that boredom relief motives are the only significant predictors of regular smoking among police students (OR = 1.45; p < .001). Conclusions: The motivational patterns of smoking vary between males and females, as well as between regular and occasional smoker police students. A pivotal inquiry in the context of preventing regular smoking among police students revolves around identifying alternative solutions to effectively occupy their leisure time and alleviate boredom.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ АКРОЛЕИНА И КРОТОНОВОГО АЛЬДЕГИДА В РОССИЙСКОЙ ПОПУЛЯЦИИ ПРИ ПЕРЕХОДЕ C ОБЫЧНЫХ СИГАРЕТ НА ЭЛЕКТРОННУЮ СИСТЕМУ НАГРЕВАНИЯ ТАБАКА

The effects of acrolein and crotonaldehyde on the health of Russian smokers upon switching to heated tobacco product use were analyzed in a five-day randomized clinical trial. The findings suggest that heated tobacco products significantly reduce exposure to these toxicants, with the adverse effects becoming less pronounced in just one day and comparable to complete cessation of smoking. The dynamics of nicotine intake and metabolism in the smokers who switched to heated tobacco products remained stable throughout the study and was similar to that in the group of regular cigarette smokers. Therefore, our study, which has been performed for the first time among the Russian population, shows that smokers switching to heated tobacco products are less exposed to harmful chemicals like acrolein and crotonaldehyde and thus may be protected against some of the negative health effects often associated with regular cigarettes.

Dietary advice in diabetes mellitus.

Dietary advice in diabetes mellitus.

Prevention of Complications of Cardiac Pathologies

The article discusses the prevention of complications of cardiac pathologies. As the author points out, complications associated with heart disease can be serious and even dangerous. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner and conduct regular medical examinations in order to prevent or detect possible heart problems early. It is also important to lead a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, regular exercise and smoking cessation. In addition to individual prevention measures, it is necessary to regularly develop and implement State programs for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, which include educational campaigns and subsidizing activities to improve overall health, such as subsidies for physical activity and anti-obesity programs. Large-scale campaigns are also needed to reduce the level of smoking and control alcohol consumption. Keywords: cardiological pathologies, complications, liver

The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes compared to lack of e-cigarette smoking exposure: a systematic review

E-cigarette use has been reported to be 7% among pregnant women. Nearly half believe they are less dangerous than regular cigarette smoking, which might encourage individuals to give up or cut back on traditional cigarette use while pregnant. However, studies has found a correlation between using e-cigarettes while pregnant and a higher risk of low birth weight and fetal development limitation. This is an updated systematic analysis of publications from 2019 to 2022 that explored the adverse effects of e-cigarette smoking on pregnancy outcomes compared to no e-cigarette use. Google scholar and PubMed databases were used for systematic literature search using keywords "e-cigarette, pregnancy, adverse effects, exposure to e-cigarettes, and lack of e-cigarette exposure." The inclusion criteria were the original research that detailed the adverse effects of e-cigarette smoking on pregnancy outcomes compared to no e-cigarette smoking and full-text articles. Among 160 articles collected, just 9 met the inclusion requirements. Seventy-six thousand four hundred ninety-seven people were involved in all the studies, six of which were cross-sectional, one prospective, and one qualitative. Few pregnant women believe e-cigarettes are a healthy alternative to conventional smoking. However, half of the participants thought vaping was harmful to both them and their developing fetuses. On the other hand, several studies revealed that infants exposed to cigarette and e-cigarette smoke had significantly more defective reflexes. Their younger age influenced women's use of e-cigarettes, lack of marriage, fewer years of formal education, living with a smoker, long-term smokers, high school education or more, an income of $30,000, being white and not of Hispanic origin.

Does bullying due to oral conditions influence cigarette smoking in adolescents? A structural equation modeling.

This study aimed to explore the pathways that can influence cigarette smoking among adolescents. This population-based cohort followed a random sample of 12-year-old adolescents from southern Brazil for 6 years. Regular cigarette smoking was assessed through a self-reported question, previously used in the Brazilian National Survey of Scholar Health. We also gathered data on bullying, dental caries at baseline, incidence of caries, sex, friend network, and Sense of Coherence (SOC). Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were also collected. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the pathways. Of the 1,134 adolescents examined at baseline, 768 were re-evaluated (67.7% retention rate). The prevalence of smoking was 37.6%. This prevalence was directly affected by low SOC (SC: -0.14, p < 0.01), low household income (SC: -0.12, p < 0.01), and male sex (SC: 0.15, p < 0.01). Presence of dental caries at baseline indirectly influenced the occurrence of dental bullying at follow-up via the incidence of dental caries (SC: 0.01, p < 0.05). Dental bullying indirectly influenced cigarettes consumption via SOC (SC: 0.62, p < 0.05). Friend network also indirectly influenced the consumption of cigarettes via SOC (SC: 0.32, p < 0.05). Psychosocial factors influence adolescent cigarette consumption through its higher direct and indirect effects (via bullying). In addition, behavioral, sociodemographic, and clinical factors also influence the occurrence of smoking.

Dentists' Perspective on Tobacco Cessation and Counseling in Jeddah

Introduction: A major cause of death on a global scale is tobacco and in fact the biggest preventable cause of mortality and illness worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 1100 million regular smokers worldwide and they are increasing alarmingly. Dentists play a pivotal role in the prevention of tobacco use as patients approach dentists for cosmetic reasons. We planned this study to find the experience of dentists on tobacco cessation and counseling. Methods: We designed the study as an analytical cross-sectional study. The data were collected through a questionnaire using Google Forms targeting all the dentists in Jeddah. The questionnaire Google link was sent to their WhatsApp and other electronic means. Consent from the dentists was obtained prior to collecting information from the dentists. Results: 89.9% of dentists agreed that it is the duty of every dentist to advise the patient on tobacco cessation and 10.1% disagreed. 81.7% of dentists agreed that all dentists have the capability of doing tobacco cessation practices. Seventy-eight percent of dentists agreed that dentists are not presently well prepared to assist patients with tobacco cessation in contrast with 22% who disagree. The scientific evidence relating to the burden of oral diseases has always been attributable to tobacco use, and a well-structured dental teaching curriculum for the dentists and the auxiliaries concentrating on oral cancer education and tobacco cessation interventions has to be emphasized in the Kingdom for the dentists (28). Dentists require formal training to do tobacco cessation successfully to reach a major goal of a “tobacco-free society.” Conclusion: There should be an emphasis on formal training being an effective tool to provide guidelines to the dentist and auxiliaries in tobacco cessation and counseling of the patients in the dental clinic.

Psychometric Properties of the Pakistani Version of the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence

The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependency (FTND) has been widely used to assess nicotine dependence. The current study intended to investigate the psychometric properties and utility among regular cigarette users. The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependency (FTND) has been widely used to assess nicotine dependence. But there has been no evaluation of FTND psychometric properties in the context of Pakistani culture. Thus, the current study intended to investigate the psychometric properties and utility among regular cigarette users in Pakistan. The study was based on a cross-sectional survey design. Regular smokers were selected as a study sample, with the age range of 25 to 40 years. The sample was collected twice. First, for the translation purpose, a sample of 40 regular smokers was collected, and for final confirmatory validation (i.e., Confirmatory Factor Analysis [CFA]) of the translated version of the scale, a sample of 500 regular smokers was collected from different areas of Gujranwala by using a purposive sampling technique. Pearson correlation, alpha reliability analyses, and CFA were used by utilizing SPSS (version 26) and AMOS (version 10). There were significant positive correlations (r values ranging from .80 to .83) found between FTND in Urdu and FTND in English version. The alpha reliability of the scale was satisfactory (i.e., 0.76). Confirmatory Factor Analysis validated the final six items Urdu version of the scale. The translation and cross-lingual validation of the Pakistani version of the FTND scale confirmed its cross-cultural use in regular smokers in Pakistan. The study has important implications in the indigenous context of Pakistan.

E-Cigarette Use among Male Smokers in Al-Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

E-cigarette use is increasing globally. Recent evidence suggests that e-cigarettes contain harmful substances that could cause adverse health outcomes. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of e-cigarette use among male current smokers in Saudi Arabia. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult male current smokers in the Al-Ahsa province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. We performed logistic regression analyses to investigate the factors associated with e-cigarette use among adult male current smokers. 325 current smokers participated in the study. A third of them (33.5%) were e-cigarette users. Almost all the study participants (97.0%) had heard about e-cigarettes. Participants who were occasional smokers (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.28; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.17-4.41) and had good knowledge perception of e-cigarettes (OR 3.49; 95% CI: 2.07-5.90) had higher odds of using e-cigarettes when compared to regular smokers of conventional cigarettes and current smokers with poor knowledge perception of e-cigarettes, respectively. In contrast, private employees (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07-0.85), and business owners (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01-0.63) had lower odds of using e-cigarettes compared to unemployed individuals. Compared with non-e-cigarette users, the rate of conventional cigarette smoking per day was significantly lower among e-cigarette users. Use of e-cigarette (OR: 3.57, 95% CI: 2.14-5.98), believing that e-cigarette quitting is hard (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.17-3.49) and trying to quit e-cigarettes (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.1-4.25) were found to be significant predictors of good knowledge perception of e-cigarettes among the current smokers. The use and knowledge perception of e-cigarettes were higher among occasional conventional male cigarette smokers than regular male smokers in Al-Ahsa province. The use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids should be examined further in the Saudi Arabian setting.

Changes in attitudes towards smoking during smoking cessation courses for Turkish- and Albanian-speaking migrants in Switzerland and its association with smoking behavior: A latent change score approach.

Migrant populations usually report higher smoking rates than locals. At the same time, people with a migration background have little or no access to regular smoking cessation treatment. In the last two decades, regular smoking cessation courses were adapted to reach out to Turkish- and Albanian-speaking migrants living in Switzerland. The main aims of the current study were (1) to analyze the effects of an adapted smoking cessation course for Turkish- and Albanian-speaking migrants in Switzerland on attitudes toward smoking and smoking behavior; and (2) to elucidate whether changes in attitudes toward smoking were associated to changes in smoking behavior in the short- and in the long-term. A total of 59 smoking cessation courses (Turkish: 37; Albanian: 22) with 436 participants (T: 268; A: 168) held between 2014 and 2019 were evaluated. Attitudes toward smoking and cigarettes smoked per day were assessed at baseline and 3-months follow-up. One-year follow-up calls included assessment of cigarettes smoked per day. Data were analyzed by means of structural equation modeling with latent change scores. Participation in an adapted smoking cessation course led to a decrease of positive attitudes toward smoking (T: β = -0.65, p < 0.001; A: β = -0.68, p < 0.001) and a decrease of cigarettes smoked per day in the short-term (T: β = -0.58, p < 0.001; A: β = -0.43, p < 0.001) with only Turkish-speaking migrants further reducing their smoking in the long-term (T: β = -0.59, p < 0.001; A: β = -0.14, p = 0.57). Greater decreases in positive attitudes were associated with greater reductions of smoking in the short-term (T: r = 0.39, p < 0.001; A: r = 0.32, p = 0.03), but not in the long-term (T: r = -0.01, p = 0.88; A: r = -0.001, p = 0.99). The adapted smoking cessation courses fostered changes in positive attitudes toward smoking that were associated with intended behavior change in the short-term. The importance of socio-cognitive characteristics related to behavior change maintenance to further increase treatment effectiveness in the long-term is discussed.