Support For Tobacco Control Policies Research Articles

Impact of a long-term tobacco-free policy at a comprehensive cancer center: a series of cross-sectional surveys.

BackgroundSpain has passed two smoke-free laws in the last years. In 2005, the law banned smoking in indoor places, and in 2010 the ban was extended to outdoor areas of certain premises such as hospitals. This study assesses the impact of smoking consumption among hospital workers at a comprehensive cancer center after the passage of two national smoke-free laws.MethodsSix cross-sectional surveys were conducted among a representative sample of hospital workers at a comprehensive cancer center in Barcelona (2001–2012) using a standardized questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to compare differences in the odds of smoking after the laws took effect (baseline vs. 1st law; 2nd law vs. 1st law).ResultsBaseline smoking prevalence was 33.1%. After passage of the 1st and 2nd laws, prevalence decreased, respectively, to 30.5% and 22.2% (p for trend =0.005). Prevalence ratios (PR) indicated a significant decrease in overall smoking after the 2nd law (PR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.47-0-89). Smoking dropped in all professional groups, more prominently among those ≥35 years old, doctors, and women. Observed trends over the time included an increase in occasional smokers, a rise in abstinence during working hours but an increase in smoking dependence, and an increase in the employees’ overall support for the smoke-free hospital project.ConclusionsA long-term tobacco control project combined with two smoke-free national laws reduced smoking rates among health workers and increased their support for tobacco control policies. The decrease was more significant after the passage of the outdoor smoke-free ban.

Old wine in new bottles: Tobacco industry's submission to European Commission tobacco product directive public consultation

Between September and December 2010 the European Commission Health & Consumer Protection Directorate-General (DGSANCO) held a public consultation on a possible revision of the European Union Tobacco Products Directive (2001/37/EC). We used content analysis of the tobacco industry's and related parties’ 300 submissions to the public consultation to determine if tobacco industry and its allies in Europe are prepared to reduce harm of the tobacco products as their public statements assert. The industry submission resorted to traditional tobacco industry arguments where illicit trade and freedom of choice were emphasized and misrepresented the conclusions of a DGSANCO-commissioned scientific report on smokeless tobacco products. Retailers and wholesalers referred to employment and economic growth more often than respondents from other categories. The pattern of responses in the submission differed dramatically from independent public opinion polls of EU citizens’ support for tobacco control policies. None of the major tobacco manufacturers or their lobbying organizations supported any of the DGSANCO's proposed evidence based interventions (pictorial health warnings, plain packaging or point-of-sale display bans) to reduce harms caused by cigarette smoking.

Prevalence, determinants and impact of unawareness about the health consequences of tobacco use among 17 929 school personnel in 29 African countries

ObjectivesTo assess prevalence, determinants and impact of unawareness about the health consequences of tobacco use among school personnel in Africa.DesignCross-sectional surveys.SettingTwenty-nine African countries.ParticipantsRepresentative samples of school personnel from 29 African...

Impact of Role Models and Policy Exposure on Support for Tobacco Control Policies in Hangzhou, China

To examine how expectations of role models concerning smoking and exposure to tobacco control policies are associated with people's support for smoking bans. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using multistage sampling. Employed structural equation modeling to examine the relationships and multi-group analysis to compare cross-group difference between smokers and non-smokers. Expectations of role models were found to be significantly associated with support for FCTC policies related to smoking. Policy exposure indirectly relates to policy support. Cross-group differences between smokers and non-smokers were not significant. Expectations of role models are strong predictors of support for FCTC tobacco control policy among Chinese urban residents; policy exposure is associated with policy support indirectly through the influence of expectations of role models. Policymakers should utilize social roles to promote tobacco control measures.

Do disgusting and fearful anti-smoking advertisements increase or decrease support for tobacco control policies?

Previous studies have reported mixed results in reducing the prevalence of tobacco use among young people. The present study investigates the influence of a combined emotions (fear and anger) approach to strengthen the persuasive impact of anti-smoking messages aimed at young smokers.The study adopts a between-subject design experiment.Participants were exposed to either a fear appeal or a fear and anger appeal message, after which they answered questions about their emotions, perceived message effectiveness, and intention to reduce cigarette consumption and to quit smoking. An original measure of the co-occurrence of emotions felt by the participants (minimum [MIN] score) was used and mediation analyses were conducted to test the relationship between the emotional content of the message and behavioral intentions through the co-occurrence of fear and anger and perceived message effectiveness.The findings show that the co-occurrence of fear and anger felt by individuals and perceived message effectiveness serially mediate the positive influence of a fear and anger appeal message compared to a fear alone appeal on changes in intention behavior (intention to reduce cigarette consumption, indirect effect = 0.152, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.014, 0.340], and intention to quit smoking, indirect effect = 0.236, 95% CI [0.096, 0.413]).The study shows the interest of combining negative emotions in prevention messages and offers guidance for government agencies responsible for tobacco control policies to help them improve the effectiveness of anti-smoking messages.

Awareness of tobacco advertising, perceived harms of smoking, and beliefs about tobacco control among a sample of Shanghainese in China

This study aims to examine beliefs among residents of Shanghai, China concerning tobacco advertising and control policies concurrent with new restrictions on tobacco use and advertising in the city. A total of 518 residents of Shanghai completed a telephone interview survey. We found that 51% of participants had seen or heard of the Zhonghua cigarette brand's 'Love China' tobacco ad campaign in the past 2 years, 59% believed that the campaign would influence people to buy this specific cigarette brand as a gift, and 30% believed that it would encourage smoking. More than 75% of respondents would support legislation banning tobacco advertising in all public places, and 88% would support legislation prohibiting smoking in all public places. Multivariate analyses indicated that those who were female, more than 50 years, have accepted college and above education, and perceived greater benefits to smoking cessation were more likely to support banning tobacco advertising and prohibiting smoking in public places. Non-smokers were more likely to support prohibiting smoking in public places. The findings suggest that although tobacco advertising is widely prevalent in Shanghai, it is disliked by the public. Respondents showed high levels of support for tobacco control policies.

Using findings from a public opinion poll to build political support for tobacco control policy in Kenya

ObjectiveTo assess the level of public support for tobacco control policies and to discuss how these findings could be used to influence the legislative process in the passing of tobacco...

The Association Between Implicit and Explicit Attitudes Toward Smoking and Support for Tobacco Control Measures

This study examined the association between implicit and explicit attitudes toward smoking and support for tobacco control policies. Participants were from an ongoing longitudinal study of the natural history of smoking who also completed a web-based assessment of implicit attitudes toward smoking (N = 1,337). Multiple regression was used to test the association between covariates (sex, age, educational attainment, parent status, and smoking status), implicit attitude toward smoking, and explicit attitude toward smoking and support for tobacco control policies. The moderating effect of the covariates on the relation between attitudes and support for policies was also tested. Females, those with higher educational attainment, parents, and nonsmokers expressed more support for tobacco control policy measures. For nonsmokers, only explicit attitude was significantly associated with support for policies. For smokers, both explicit and implicit attitudes were significantly associated with support. The effect of explicit attitude was stronger for those with lower educational attainment. Both explicit and implicit smoking attitudes are important for building support for tobacco control policies, particularly among smokers. More research is needed on how to influence explicit and implicit attitudes to inform policy advocacy campaigns.

Smokers’ compliance with smoke-free policies, and non-smokers’ assertiveness for smoke-free air in the workplace: a study from the Balkans

Identify the psychosocial variables that predict smokers’ compliance with smoke-free policies at work, and non-smokers’ assertiveness for smoke-free rights in Greek and Bulgarian workplaces. Data were collected from employees in Greece and Bulgaria. The main outcome measures were smokers’ compliance with smoke-free policies, and non-smokers’ assertiveness intentions. Demographic variables, tobacco use and dependence, as well as beliefs about second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and smoking at work were also assessed. Regression analyses showed that smokers’ compliance with smoke-free policies was predicted by age, perceived health risks of smoking, and beliefs related to the benefits of smoking at work. Non-smokers’ assertiveness was predicted by annoyance from exposure to SHS at work, and assertiveness-related social cognitions (e.g., attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy). Interventions to promote support for tobacco control policies at work in Greece and Bulgaria may benefit from targeting smokers’ beliefs about the actual effects of tobacco use on health and job performance. Accordingly, efforts to promote non-smokers assertiveness should build stronger assertiveness-related attitudes, convey anti-smoking normative messages, and strengthen self-efficacy skills.

Public support for tobacco control policy extensions in Western Australia: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesPolicy makers seeking to introduce new tobacco control measures need to anticipate community support to assist them in planning appropriate implementation strategies. This study assessed community support for plain packaging...

Smoking Behaviors and Attitudes During Adolescence Prospectively Predict Support for Tobacco Control Policies in Adulthood

Several cross-sectional studies have examined factors associated with support for tobacco control policies. The current study utilized a longitudinal design to test smoking status and attitude toward smoking measured in adolescence as prospective predictors of support for tobacco control policies measured in adulthood. Participants (N = 4,834) were from a longitudinal study of a Midwestern community-based sample. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses tested adolescent smoking status and attitude toward smoking as prospective predictors (after controlling for sociodemographic factors, adult smoking status, and adult attitude toward smoking) of support for regulation of smoking in public places, discussion of the dangers of smoking in public schools, prohibiting smoking in bars, eliminating smoking on television and in movies, prohibiting smoking in restaurants, and increasing taxes on cigarettes. Participants who smoked during adolescence demonstrated more support for discussion of the dangers of smoking in public schools and less support for increasing taxes on cigarettes but only among those who smoked as adults. Those with more positive attitudes toward smoking during adolescence demonstrated less support as adults for prohibiting smoking in bars and eliminating smoking on television and in movies. Moreover, a significant interaction indicated that those with more positive attitudes toward smoking as adolescents demonstrated less support as adults for prohibiting smoking in restaurants, but only if they became parents as adults. This study's findings suggest that interventions designed to deter adolescent smoking may have future benefits in increasing support for tobacco control policies.

Estrategias de las tabaqueras para captar fumadores jóvenes en España: una revisión de los documentos internos

Tobacco companies' strategies to promote tobacco use and undermine tobacco control policy are key in tobacco use among young people. The analysis of tobacco companies' internal documents can be instrumental in identifying those strategies, improving social support for tobacco control policy, and planning public health interventions. The goal of this study was to identify and analyze internal documents related to the activities of tobacco companies during the 1980s and 90s aimed at promoting smoking in young Spaniards. Electronic search by key word of tobacco industry documents held at the Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. More than 1,000 documents were identified and reviewed, including letters, messages, memos, and other documents. Seventeen documents related to the objective of the study are analyzed and discussed. Tobacco companies funded and conducted activities aimed at maintaining high smoking incidence and prevalence in Spain. These activities, which included research, cigarette and packaging design, promotion, and social and political manipulation, may have had an impact on current levels of tobacco use in Spain.

Smoking behaviour and attitudes of Hungarian Roma and non-Roma population towards tobacco control policies

To assess the smoking status and support for tobacco control policies among the Roma minority compared with the non-Roma population in Hungary. A cross-sectional survey was delivered among Roma minority and local non-Roma population; 83 Roma and 126 non-Roma people were interviewed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were applied to compare Roma and non-Roma populations. The prevalence of smoking was significantly higher and the support for tobacco control measures was significantly lower in the Roma population. This effect of ethnicity on attitudes toward tobacco control was explained somewhat, but not completely, by the Roma group's higher rate of smoking and lower level of education. Tobacco control policies are a proven strategy for denormalizing smoking and discouraging initiation. This strategy has important potential for Roma communities because of their high rates of tobacco use. However, this study shows that the Roma are resistant the efforts to limit smoking. Changing these attitudes will require targeted public health interventions that take into account not only the lower educational levels of the Roma, but also their cultural beliefs regarding tobacco.

Support for Smoke-Free Policies: A Nationwide Analysis of Immigrants, US-Born, and Other Demographic Groups, 1995–2002

We examined whether support for tobacco control policies varies by demographic group, including nativity status (i.e., immigrant versus US born). We analyzed 1995 to 2002 data from the Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplement (n=543,951). The outcome was a summary attitudinal measure assessing support of smoking bans in 4 of 6 venues. US-born respondents, smokers, male respondents, Native Americans, Whites, and those who were unmarried, of lower socioeconomic status, and whose workplaces and homes were not smoke free were less likely to support smoking bans. Immigrants exhibited stronger support for banning smoking in every venue, with a generation-specific gradient in which support eroded with increasing assimilation to the United States. Levels of support were more than twice as high among immigrants as among US-born respondents (odds ratio [OR]=2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.08, 2.23). Naturalized citizens displayed higher support than US-born citizens, which may be relevant for mobilization of the electorate. Differences in population composition and contexts (e.g., smoke-free workplaces) only partially accounted for immigrants' stronger level of support. Immigrants and their children may be valuable tobacco control allies given their supportive attitudes toward smoke-free policies.

Support for smoke-free policies in a pro-smoking culture: findings from the European survey on tobacco control attitudes and knowledge

To assess support for tobacco control policies between smokers and non-smokers, and the effects of nicotine dependence on smokers' policy support in a country with high smoking rates and pro-smoking norms. Population-based, cross-sectional telephone survey of a random sample of 700 Greek adults (mean age = 40.2, SD = 10.9) assessing smoking status and attitudes towards tobacco control policies. Almost half of the respondents were current smokers, and smoking prevalence was significantly higher in males than females. Compared to non-smokers and former smokers, current smokers were less supportive of smoke-free public places and taxation policies. All groups appeared equally supportive for policies against sales of tobacco products to minors. Daily smokers with higher nicotine dependence were less supportive for smoke-free public places and taxation policies compared to smokers with lower dependence scores. Smoking status and nicotine dependence differentiate the level of support for smoke-free policies. However, both smokers and non-smokers seem to be supportive for policies aiming to prevent youth from smoking, even in a country with pro-smoking social norms and high smoking rates.

Exposure to tobacco marketing and support for tobacco control policies.

To examine the salience of tobacco marketing on postsecondary campuses and student support for tobacco control policies. Face-to-face surveys were conducted with 1690 students at 3 universities in southwestern Ontario. Virtually all (97%) students reported noticing tobacco marketing in the past year, and 35% reported noticing marketing on campus. There was strong support for smoke-free restrictions on campus, including restaurants and bars (82%), and for prohibitions on campus marketing. The presence of campus policies was associated with reduced exposure to marketing and increased policy support. There is strong support among students to remove tobacco marketing from campus and to introduce comprehensive smoke-free restrictions.

Exposure to Tobacco Marketing and Support for Tobacco Control Policies

Exposure to Tobacco Marketing and Support for Tobacco Control Policies

Support for Tobacco Control Policies among Youth in North Carolina

The objective of this research was to examine attitudes toward tobacco control policies among middle and high school students in North Carolina. Specifically, we report data on knowledge of the harmfulness of secondhand smoke and support for restaurant and school-based smoking restrictions. The statewide North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey was administered to a representative sample of 3,073 middle school and 3,261 high school students in the fall of 2003. The overall response rate for the middle and high school samples was 77.0% and 77.4%, respectively. Support for tobacco policies was analyzed by smoking status and by knowledge of the harmfulness of secondhand smoke The vast majority of respondents in the middle school (87.6%) and high school (91.6%) reported that secondhand smoke was "definitely" or probably" harmful. However, less than half of middle school (48.6%) and high school (40.2%) students responded that smoking should be banned in restaurants. Even among the select group of students who had never smoked and who believed secondhand smoke was harmful, support for such a ban was less than 60% at both school levels. Youth in North Carolina are aware of the health risks of secondhand smoke, but are not convinced of the need to restrict smoking in restaurants. These results point to the need for more youth-focused advocacy and education around smoking restrictions, both to reduce youth exposure to secondhand smoke and to solidify voter support for such protections once they reach adulthood.

Teacher tobacco use and tobacco use prevention in two regions in India: qualitative research findings

Background This paper uses qualitative data to explore differences in tobacco use patterns and tobacco use prevention efforts among teachers in two Indian states with high versus low prevalence of tobacco use. Methods We conducted a series of 12 focus groups with teachers in 12 schools in Maharashtra and Bihar following a standardized script, and analyzed data using standard qualitative methods. Results Teachers in Bihar reported higher levels of tobacco use and stronger social norms promoting tobacco use compared to those in Maharashtra; nonetheless, teachers in both states reported strong social prescriptions about teachers' not using tobacco. Few supports were available for cessation. Although focus group participants were generally aware that tobacco use has deleterious health effects, not all were knowledgeable of specific health consequences, in particular resulting from the use of smokeless tobacco. Key barriers to teaching about tobacco use prevention were reported, including the lack of its inclusion in standard curricula and large class sizes; these results also underscore the importance of support for tobacco control policies. Conclusions These findings point to the need for a multi-pronged approach to tobacco use prevention that involves the government, school administration, as well as teachers, parents, and the broader community, and including support to tobacco use cessation.

Dimensions underlying legislator support for tobacco control policies

Objective: To propose and test a new classification system for characterising legislator support for various tobacco control policies. Design: Cross sectional study. Subjects: Federal and provincial legislators in Canada serving...