Passive exposure to electronic cigarette aerosol in pregnancy: A case study of a family.

BACKGROUND: Passive exposure to the aerosols of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has been little studied. We assessed this exposure in late pregnancy in a woman and her 3-year-old child, exposed through e-cigarette use by another household member. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal case study involved a family unit consisting of an e-cigarette user, a pregnant woman who delivered an infant during the study, and the couple's older 3-year-old son. At 31, 36, and 40 weeks of the pregnancy, we measured biomarkers (nicotine metabolites, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, propanediols, glycerol, and metals) in the urine and hair of all three participants and in the saliva of the adults, in cord blood at delivery, and in the breast milk at the postpartum period. RESULTS: Samples from the e-cigarette user showed quantifiable concentrations of all analytes assessed (maximum urinary cotinine concentration, 4.9 ng/mL). Among samples taken from the mother, nicotine and its metabolites were found mainly in urine and also in saliva and hair, but not in cord blood. During the postpartum period, we found cotinine concentrations of 2.2 ng/mL in the mother's urine and 0.22 ng/mL in breast milk; 1,2-propanediol was generally detected in urine and saliva, but not in cord blood or breast milk. The maximum urinary cotinine concentration in the 3-year-old child was 2.6 ng/mL and propanediols also were detected in his urine. Nitrosamines were not detected in samples taken from the mother or the 3-year-old. Metals found in the refill liquid were detected at low levels in both the mother and the 3-year-old. CONCLUSIONS: We detected low but not negligible concentrations of e-cigarette-related analytes (including cord blood and breast milk) in an exposed pregnant non-user and in a 3-year-old child also living in the home. Passive exposure to e-cigarette aerosols cannot be disregarded and should be assessed in larger observational studies.

Exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke in private vehicles: Measurements in air and dust samples.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate airborne nicotine concentrations and nicotine, cotinine, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in settled dust from private cars in Spain and the UK. METHODS: We measured vapor-phase nicotine concentrations in a convenience sample of 45 private cars from Spain (N = 30) and the UK (N = 15) in 2017-2018. We recruited non-smoking drivers (n = 20), smoking drivers who do not smoke inside the car (n = 15), and smoking drivers who smoke inside (n = 10). Nicotine, cotinine, and three TSNAs (NNK, NNN, NNA) were also measured in settled dust in a random subsample (n = 20). We computed medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) of secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) compounds according to the drivers' profile. RESULTS: 24-h samples yielded median airborne nicotine concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ) (IQR:

Determination of soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in saliva samples and its association with nicotine.

INTRODUCTION: The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main receptor of the SARS-CoV-2. There is contradictory evidence on how the exposure to nicotine may module the concentration of soluble ACE2 (sACE2). The aim of this study was to assess the association between nicotine and sACE2 concentrations in saliva samples. METHODS: Pooled analysis performed with data retrieved from two studies (n = 634 and n = 302). Geometric mean (GM) concentrations of sACE2, both total and relative to the total amount of protein in the sample, were compared according to sociodemographic variables and variables associated to nicotine. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to explore the associations of sACE2 with nicotine adjusting for sex, age and body mass index. Spearman's rank-correlation coefficients were estimated between the concentrations of nicotine and cotinine, and pack-years, the concentration of relative sACE2 and the isoforms of sACE2. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase of 0.108‰ and 0.087 ng/µl in the relative and absolute salivary sACE2 GM concentrations, respectively, between the lowest and highest nicotine levels. Similar results were observed for cotinine. These associations did not change in the multivariable linear models. There was a low correlation of nicotine and cotinine concentration with the concentration of relative salivary sACE2 (rs = 0.153 and rs = 0.132, respectively), pack-years (rs = 0.222 and rs = 0.235, respectively) and with the concentration of isoform 40 KDa (rs = 0.193 and rs = 0.140, respectively). CONCLUSION: Salivary nicotine concentration seems to be limitedly associated with the concentration of sACE2.

Measurement of airborne nicotine, as a marker of secondhand smoke exposure, in homes with residents who smoke in 9 European countries.

OBJECTIVE: Smoke-free policies are effective in preventing secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, but their adoption at home remains largely voluntary. This study aimed to quantify SHS exposure in homes with residents who smoke in Europe according to households' characteristics, tobacco consumption habits, and national contextual factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (March 2017-September 2018) based on measurements of air nicotine inside 162 homes with residents who smoke from nine European countries. We installed passive samplers for seven consecutive days to monitor nicotine concentrations. Through self-administered questionnaires, we collected sociodemographic information and the number of individuals who smoke, smoking rules, frequency, location, and quantity of tobacco use in households. Country-level factors included the overall score in the Tobacco Control Scale 2016, the smoking prevalence, and self-reported SHS exposure prevalence. Nicotine concentrations were analyzed as continuous and dichotomous variables, categorized based on the limit of quantification of 0.02 µg/m3. RESULTS: Overall, median nicotine concentration was 0.85 µg/m3 (interquartile range (IQR):0.15-4.42), and there was nicotine presence in 93% of homes. Participants reported that smoking was not permitted in approximately 20% of households, 40% had two or more residents who smoked, and in 79% residents had smoked inside during the week of sampling. We found higher nicotine concentrations in homes: with smell of tobacco smoke inside (1.45 µg/m3 IQR: 0.32-6.34), where smoking was allowed (1.60 µg/m3 IQR: 0.68-7.63), with two or more residents who smoked (2.42 µg/m3 IQR: 0.58-11.0), with more than 40 cigarettes smoked (2.92 µg/m3 IQR: 0.97-10.61), and where two or more residents smoked inside (4.02 µg/m3 IQR: 1.58-11.74). Household nicotine concentrations were significantly higher in countries with higher national smoking prevalence and self-reported SHS exposure prevalence (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SHS concentrations in homes with individuals who smoke were approximately twenty times higher in homes that allowed smoking compared to those reporting smoke-free household rules. Evidence-based interventions promoting smoke-free homes should be implemented in combination with strengthening other MPOWER measures.

Electronic Cigarette Use in 12 European Countries: Results From the TackSHS Survey.

BACKGROUND: Limited data on electronic cigarette prevalence, patterns, and settings of use are available from several European countries. METHODS: Within the TackSHS project, a face-to-face survey was conducted in 2017-2018 in 12 European countries (Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain). Overall, 11,876 participants, representative of the population aged ⩾15 years in each country, provided information on electronic cigarette. RESULTS: 2.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-2.7%) of the subjects (2.5% among men and 2.4% among women; 0.4% among never, 4.4% among current- and 6.5% among ex-smokers) reported current use of electronic cigarette, ranging from 0.6% in Spain to 7.2% in England. Of the 272 electronic cigarette users, 52.6% were dual users (ie, users of both electronic and conventional cigarettes) and 58.8% used liquids with nicotine. In all, 65.1% reported using electronic cigarette in at least one indoor setting where smoking is forbidden; in particular, at workplaces (34.9%) and bars and restaurants (41.5%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that electronic cigarette use was lower among older individuals (P for trend <0.001) and higher among individuals with high level of education (P for trend = 0.040). Participants from countries with higher tobacco cigarette prices more frequently reported electronic cigarette use (odds ratio 3.62; 95% CI, 1.80-7.30). CONCLUSION: Considering the whole adult population of these 12 European countries, more than 8.3 million people use electronic cigarettes. The majority of users also smoked conventional cigarettes, used electronic cigarettes with nicotine, and consumed electronic cigarettes in smoke-free indoor areas.

Efficacy of Presurgical Interventions to Promote Smoking Cessation: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of presurgical interventions for promoting smoking cessation in terms of achieving smoking abstinence and reducing surgical complication rates. A systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published from March 2009 to April 2021 was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. References were found in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science (WOS), and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). RCTs comparing the efficacy of a smoking cessation program directed at an intervention group (IG) versus the usual intervention or another directed at a control group (CG) were included. No language restrictions were applied in the search. All approaches to smoking cessation were admitted (face-to-face, telephone, group, individual, multicomponent, etc.), as were all methods for assessing abstinence, follow-up times, surgical specialties, definitions of smokers, and all types of surgical complications. Four hundred forty-four references were pulled out, and 79 duplicates were discarded. We excluded 346 records that were after application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. In addition to the remaining 19 articles, 1 article obtained from citation searches was also assessed. We finally included 11 original articles in this systematic review, corresponding to 9 studies, because 2 of the RCTs had 2 different articles referring to different aspects of the same study. The results showed long-term postoperative (6 to 12 months) abstinence rates between 25.0% and 36.4% in RCTs with intensive multicomponent interventions, versus rates about 13.0% in brief interventions. Two multicomponent interventions obtained significant improvements regarding the reduction of short-term postoperative surgical complications. In conclusion, presurgical multicomponent smoking cessation interventions are more effective than brief interventions in terms of achieving abstinence and reducing surgical complications. The follow-up time and the intensity of the interventions were predictors of dropout.

Long-term effectiveness of a nurse-led smoking cessation clinic at a comprehensive cancer center.

PURPOSE: Smoking cessation interventions should be promoted in cancer centers to improve clinical outcomes among cancer patients and the quality of life of cancer-free patients and survivors. The aim of the present study was to examine long-term abstinence (1, 3, and 5 years) among smokers who received an intensive nurse-led smoking cessation intervention. DESIGN: A prospective follow-up study was conducted in a smoking cessation clinic in Barcelona. METHODS: The study included 479 smokers who received a nurse-led smoking cessation intervention that included motivational interviewing, psychological support, behavioral change counseling, promotion of smoke-free policies, and relapse-prevention strategies, as well as pharmacotherapy if necessary, for 12 months. We calculated overall and sex-specific 1-, 3-, and 5-year abstinence probabilities (Kaplan-Meier curves) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of relapse with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox regression. FINDINGS: The overall probability of abstinence at 1 and 5 years was 0.561 (95% CI: 0.516-0.606) and 0.364 (95% CI: 0.311-0.417), respectively. Females had a higher, but not significant, hazard ratio for relapse compared to males (aHR = 1.180; 95% CI: 0.905-1.538). Attending <5 visits was the most remarkable determinant of relapsing compared to attending 5-9 visits or ≥10 visits, both overall and by sex (p for trend: overall, p < 0.001; males, p = 0.007; and females, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Abstinence probability decreased over the 5-year follow-up but was relatively high. Males had higher abstinence rates than females in all follow-up periods. Completeness of the intensive intervention was the main predictor of cessation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Smoking cessation interventions should consider sex and incorporate strategies to increase adherence to obtain higher long-term abstinence rates.

Transitions in smoking status in nursing students: A prospective longitudinal study.

AIM: To describe transitions in smoking status and their determining factors among nursing students between baseline (2015-2016) and follow-up (2018-2019). DESIGN: Observational prospective longitudinal study of 4381 nursing students in Catalonia (Spain). METHODS: We examined transitions in smoking status from: (i) current smokers to recent quitters, (ii) never smokers to new smokers and (iii) former smokers to quitters who relapsed. We fitted logistic regression models to assess the predictors of quitting smoking. RESULTS: The proportion of current smokers decreased from 29.7% at baseline to 23.6% at follow-up, with a cumulative incidence rate of quitting of 28.3% during follow-up. Nondaily smokers were more likely to quit than daily smokers. Of those who were never smokers at baseline, 4.6% were smokers at follow-up, and 23.2% of former smokers at baseline had relapsed at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Nondaily smokers were more likely to have quit smoking at follow-up among this cohort of nursing students. The early implementation of a comprehensive tobacco control program that includes tobacco-free campus policies, tobacco prevention interventions and cessation support during college years may decrease tobacco use among nursing students. IMPACT: Nursing students' tobacco use is concerning, as they are the future workforce of nurses who have a key role in tobacco product use prevention and cessation. During college years, nursing students have a greater likelihood of experimenting with several smoking status changes as well as to consolidate smoking behaviors. This is the first longitudinal study to highlight the factors associated with quitting smoking among a cohort of Spanish nursing students. Being a nondaily smoker at baseline predicted quitting at follow-up. Our findings support the early implementation of a comprehensive tobacco control program that includes tobacco-free campus policies, tobacco prevention interventions and tobacco cessation support during college years to decrease tobacco product use prevalence among nursing students. REPORTING METHOD: We have adhered to STROBE guidelines. No Patient or Public Contribution. This observational study has not been registered.

Training mental health residents in tobacco and alcohol: Relationship with their clinical intervention. / Formación en tabaco y alcohol de residentes de salud mental: Relación con su intervención clínica.

The objective of this study is to describe how mental health professionals in training (residents) apply the brief intervention (5As) on the tobacco and alcohol consumption to their patients, and if this is related to the training received and/or their own consumption. This is a cross-sectional study in which a self-reported questionnaire was administered to first-year residents of mental health professionals in Catalonia (2016-2019) (psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses). We performed a descriptive analysis of the variables and we applied a chi-square test for the comparison of proportions. 154 professionals completed the questionnaire. Half of them had not received any university training on intervention in smoking (46.8%) or in alcohol consumption (53.2%). Those who had received it, advised, assessed and helped their patients to quit smoking more frequently (p = 0.008, p = 0.037 and p = 0.039, respectively). Those who had received training in alcohol intervention gave advice, performed assessments and offered help to quit/reduce alcohol among their patients more frequently (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). Residents usually helped more to quit or reduce alcohol than to quit tobacco (p < 0.001). 60.1% of them never or rarely helped their patients to stop smoking and 34.6% rarely helped in the case of alcohol. In general, nurses did more intervention for tobacco than alcohol use, regardless of the training received. The lack of training of professionals in tobacco and alcohol intervention at university is related to a lack of intervention on patients in their professional practice, regardless of their own consumption.

El objetivo del estudio es analizar la intervención breve 5As en tabaco y alcohol de los profesionales sanitarios residentes de salud mental y analizar su relación con la formación recibida y/o con su propio consumo. Se trata de un estudio transversal en el que se administró un cuestionario autoinformado a residentes de primer año de salud mental de Cataluña de 2016 a 2019 (médicos, psicólogos y enfermeras). Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables y comparación de proporciones a través de pruebas chi-cuadrado. Contestaron 154 profesionales, la mitad no había recibido ninguna formación universitaria sobre intervención en tabaquismo (46,8%), ni en consumo de alcohol (53,2%). Los que sí la habían recibido, aconsejaban, evaluaban y ayudaban a dejar de fumar a sus pacientes con mayor frecuencia (p = 0,008, p = 0,037 y p = 0,039; respectivamente). Los que habían recibido formación en alcohol, aplicaban más consejo, evaluación y deshabituación sobre el alcohol a sus pacientes (p < 0,001; p = 0,001; y p < 0,001; respectivamente). En global, ayudaban más a dejar o reducir el alcohol que el tabaco (p < 0,001). Un 60,1% de todos ellos nunca o raramente ayudaba a sus pacientes a dejar de fumar y un 34,6% en el caso del alcohol. Las enfermeras intervenían más en tabaquismo que en alcohol, hubieran recibido o no formación universitaria. El estudio concluye que la poca formación universitaria recibida por los profesionales se asocia con una frecuencia baja de intervención sobre sus pacientes, sin que exista relación entre el nivel de intervención y su propio consumo.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure in European Countries With Different Smoke-Free Legislation: Findings From the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) poses serious and extensive health and economic-related consequences to European society and worldwide. Smoking bans are a key measure to reducing SHS exposure but have been implemented with varying levels of success. We assessed changes in the prevalence of self-reported SHS exposure and smoking behavior in public places among smokers in six European countries and the influence of the country's type of smoking ban (partial or total ban) on such exposure and smoking behavior. AIMS AND METHODS: The EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys were conducted among adult smokers in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Spain in 2016 (Wave 1, n = 6011) and 2018 (Wave 2, n = 6027). We used generalized estimating equations models to assess changes between Waves 1 and 2 and to test the interaction between the type of smoking ban and (1) self-reported SHS exposure, (2) self-reported smoking in several public places. RESULTS: A significant decrease in self-reported SHS exposure was observed in workplaces, from 19.1% in 2016 to 14.0% in 2018 (-5.1%; 95% CI: -8.0%; -2.2%). Self-reported smoking did not change significantly inside bars (22.7% in Wave 2), restaurants (13.2% in Wave 2) and discos/nightclubs (34.0% in W2). SHS exposure in public places was significantly less likely (adjusted odds ratio = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.26-0.47) in the countries with total bans as compared to those countries with partial bans. CONCLUSION: The inverse association between smoking in public places and smoking bans indicates an opportunity for strengthening smoke-free legislation and protecting bystanders from exposure to SHS in public places. IMPLICATIONS: Prevalence of smokers engaging in and being exposed to smoking in public places varied by type of smoke-free legislation across six European Union countries in our study; those with total smoke bans reported significantly less exposure to SHS than those with partial or no bans. Our results indicate room for improvement, not only to decrease the prevalence of exposure to SHS in Europe but also to diminish the variability between countries through common, more restrictive smoke-free legislation, and importantly, strong and sustained enforcement.

Non-smokers' and smokers' support for smoke-free legislation in 14 indoor and outdoor settings across 12 European countries.

BACKGROUND: European countries differ considerably in the scope and the extent of their policies to protect people from the harms of secondhand smoke exposure. Public opinion may have a substantial influence on several stages of policy development, implementation, and compliance. For this reason, we aimed to evaluate the population level of support for smoke-free policies and its correlates. METHODS: We used data from the TackSHS Survey (2017-2018), a cross-sectional study with representative samples of the general population aged ≥15 years from 12 European countries. We described the proportion of non-smokers' and smokers' support for the implementation of smoke-free legislation in 14 indoor and outdoor settings and the country-level characteristics associated with it. RESULTS: In the total sample (n = 11,902), support for smoke-free legislation were the lowest for restaurants/bar patios (non-smokers = 53.0%; smokers = 29.2%) and the highest for workplaces (non-smokers = 78.5%; smokers = 66.5%). In the country-level analysis, the highest support among non-smokers was for workplaces in Bulgaria (93.1%) and the lowest for restaurants/bars patios in Greece (39.4%). Among smokers, the corresponding estimates were for children's playgrounds in Latvia (88.9%) and for cars in Portugal (21%). For most settings, support for smoke-free legislation was directly related with the countries' prevalence of secondhand smoke presence and reported smoking in each setting. DISCUSSION: Our results show that the majority of European adults (including a large proportion of smokers) are supportive of implementing smoke-free legislation in indoor settings and extending it to selected outdoor settings. Such expressive support can be seen as an opportunity to advance legislation and protect the European population from secondhand smoke exposure.

Regulation of Electronic Cigarette Use in Public and Private Areas in 48 Countries Within the WHO European Region: A Survey to In-country Informants.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to describe the legislation regulating the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in various places in European countries. METHODS: A survey among experts from all countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region was conducted in 2018. We collected and described data on legislation regulating e-cigarette use indoors and outdoors in public and private places, the level of difficulties in adopting the legislation, and the public support and compliance. Factors associated with the legislation adoption were identified with Poisson and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Out of 48 countries, 58.3% had legislation on e-cigarette use at the national level. Education facilities were the most regulated place (58.3% of countries), while private areas (eg, homes, cars) were the least regulated ones (39.6%). A third of countries regulated e-cigarette use indoors. Difficulty and support in adopting the national legislation and its compliance were all at a moderate level. Countries' smoking prevalence and income levels were linked to legislation adoption. CONCLUSIONS: Although most WHO European Region countries had introduced e-cigarette use legislation at the national level, only a few of the legislation protect bystanders in indoor settings.

Use and Awareness of Heated Tobacco Products in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Heated tobacco products (HTP) are new forms of tobacco consumption with limited information available on their use among the general population. Our objective was to analyze the prevalence and associations of use of HTP across 11 countries in Europe. METHODS: Within the TackSHS Project, in 2017-2018 we conducted a cross-sectional study with information on HTP use in the following countries: Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain. In each country, face-to-face interviews were performed on a representative sample of around 1,000 subjects aged ≥15 years, for a total of 10,839 subjects. RESULTS: Overall, 27.8% of study participants were aware of HTPs, 1.8% were ever HTP users (ranging from 0.6% in Spain to 8.3% in Greece), and 0.1% were current users. Men were more frequently HTP ever users than women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.95). Ever HTP use was inversely related to age (P for trend <0.001) and more frequent in ex-smokers (compared with never smokers, aOR 4.32; 95% CI, 2.69-6.95) and current smokers (aOR 8.35; 95% CI, 5.67-12.28), and in electronic cigarette past users (compared with never users, aOR 5.48; 95% CI, 3.46-8.68) and current users (aOR 5.92; 95% CI, 3.73-9.40). CONCLUSIONS: In 2017-2018, HTP use was still limited in Europe among the general population; however, the dual use of these products, their high use among younger generations, and the interest of non-smokers in these products are worrying and indicate the need for close monitoring in terms of prevalence and the characteristics of users.

Tobacco control in Europe: progress and key challenges.

We discuss progress made with respect to reducing the burden of disease caused by tobacco use within the WHO European Region and outline major issues and challenges regarding ongoing implementation of tobacco control policy. Although 50 of 53 countries in the WHO European Region are parties to the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC), smoking prevalence varies tremendously between European countries. While smoking rates are decreasing slowly, faster declines among smokers with a higher socioeconomic status are leading to growing inequalities in tobacco use. Governments in Europe increasingly formulate visions of 'tobacco-free' societies and it is encouraging that the European Commission aims to achieve a tobacco-free Europe in 2040 as part of its Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. While core WHO FCTC measures still have to be fully implemented in many European countries, some countries are implementing more advanced measures such as plain packaging, banning of characterising flavours from tobacco products, tobacco retailer licensing and extensions of smoking bans into spaces such as cars, outdoor areas and public streets. Remaining challenges include protecting tobacco control policymaking from tobacco industry interference, insufficient dedicated budget for scientific research and the need for Europe-wide monitoring data on use of tobacco and nicotine products.

Smoke-free spaces: a decade of progress, a need for more?

Adoption of smoke-free measures has been one of the central elements of tobacco control activity over the past 30 years. The past decade has seen an increasing number of countries and proportion of the global population covered by smoke-free policies to some extent. Despite reductions in global smoking prevalence, population growth means that the number of non-smokers exposed to the harms caused by secondhand smoke remains high. Smoke-free policy measures have been shown to be useful in protecting non-smokers from secondhand smoke, and can additionally increase cessation and reduce smoking initiation. Policies tend to be aimed primarily at enclosed public or workplace settings with very few countries attempting to control exposure in private or semiprivate spaces such as homes and cars, and, as a result, children may be benefiting less from smoke-free measures than adults. Compliance with legislation also varies by country and there is a need for education and empowerment together with guidance and changing social norms to help deliver the full benefits that smoke-free spaces can bring. Restrictions and policies on use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in smoke-free settings require more research to determine the benefits and implications of bystanders' exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol, dual use and smoking cessation.

Tool to monitor tobacco control policy implementation: the Tobacco Control Scale in Latin America. Adaptation process and pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring tobacco control policy implementation is one of the keys for tobacco consumption reduction in Latin America (LA). This study reports on the adaptation of the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS) for use in LA countries and the level of tobacco control policy implementation in this region according to the scale. METHODS: Ecological cross-sectional survey. The questionnaire to measure tobacco control policies was a translated (into Spanish and Portuguese) and adapted version of the last TCS as used in Europe. The resulting TCS-LA maintains the same structure as the original TCS, with eight policy domains and 100 points (pts) as maximum score; however, four policy domains were adapted because the exact same rationale could not be applied. At least two non-governmental tobacco control experts were contacted per country to answer the TCS-LA. RESULTS: Informants from 17 out of 18 countries completed the questionnaire. Using the TCS-LA, Panama (70 pts), Uruguay (68 pts) and Ecuador (61 pts) exhibited the strongest tobacco control policies, while Guatemala (32 pts), Bolivia (30 pts) and Dominican Republic (29 pts) have implemented a lower number of tobacco control policies. Eight countries reached 50% of the TCS-LA total possible score, indicating a relatively good implementation level of tobacco control policies. CONCLUSIONS: Panama, Uruguay and Ecuador are the tobacco control policy leaders in LA; however, tobacco control in the region has room for improvement since nine countries have a total score under 50 pts. The TCS is a feasible and adaptable tool to monitor tobacco control in other WHO regions beyond Europe.

Beyond the European Union Tobacco Products Directive: smokers' and recent quitters' support for further tobacco control measures (2016-2018).

BACKGROUND: Several measures recommended by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have not been implemented in the European Union, despite changes in the legislation such as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). This study aims to understand smokers' and recent quitters' levels of support for tobacco control measures that go beyond the TPD during and after its implementation. METHODS: Data from wave 1 (2016, n=6011) and wave 2 (2018, n=6027) of the EUREST-PLUS International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project Six European Countries Survey, a cohort of adult smokers in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain were used to estimate the level of support for seven different tobacco control measures, overall and by country. RESULTS: In 2018, the highest support was for implementing measures to further regulate tobacco products (50.5%) and for holding tobacco companies accountable for the harm caused by smoking (48.8%). Additionally, in 2018, 40% of smokers and recent quitters supported a total ban on cigarettes and other tobacco products within ten years, if assistance to quit smoking is provided. Overall, support for tobacco control measures among smokers and recent quitters after the implementation of the TPD remained stable over time. CONCLUSION: There is considerable support among smokers and recent quitters for tobacco control measures that go beyond the current measures implemented. A significant percentage of smokers would support a ban on tobacco products in the future if the government provided assistance to quit smoking. This highlights the importance of implementing measures to increase smoking cessation in conjunction with other policies.

Factors associated with changes in inpatients' smoking pattern during hospitalization and one month after discharge: A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Smokers are frequent users of healthcare services. Admissions to hospital can serve as a "teachable moment" for quitting smoking. Clinical guidelines recommend initiating smoking cessation services during hospitalization; however, in Southern European countries less than 5% of inpatients receive a brief intervention for smoking cessation. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (i) to examine rates of smoking abstinence during and after hospitalization; (ii) to measure changes in smoking patterns among persons who continued smoking after discharge; and (iii) to identify predictors of abstinence during hospitalization and after discharge. METHODS: A cohort study of a representative sample of current adult smokers hospitalized in two Spanish and two Portuguese hospitals. We surveyed smokers during hospitalization and recontacted them one month after discharge. We used a 25-item ad hoc questionnaire regarding their smoking pattern, the smoking cessation intervention they have received during hospitalization, and hospital and sociodemographic characteristics. We performed a descriptive analysis using the chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression to characterize the participant, hospital, and smoking cessation intervention (5As model) characteristics associated with smoking abstinence. RESULTS: Smoking patients from both countries presented high abstinence rates during hospitalization (Spain: 76.4%; Portugal: 70.2%); however, after discharge, their abstinence rates decreased to 55.3% and 46.8%, respectively. In Spain, smokers who tried to quit before hospital admission showed higher abstinence rates, and those who continued smoking reduced a mean of five cigarettes the number of cigarettes per day (p ≤ 0.001). In Portugal, abstinence rates were higher among women (p = 0.030), those not living with a smoker (p = 0.008), those admitted to medical-surgical wards (p = 0.035), who consumed their first cigarette within 60 min after waking (p = 0.006), and those who were trying to quit before hospitalization (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the smokers admitted into the Spanish hospitals are abstinent one month after discharge or have reduced their cigarettes per day. Nevertheless, success rates could be increased by implementing evidence-based tobacco cessation programs at the organizational-level, including post-discharge active quitting smoking support. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Three-quarters of the inpatients who smoke remain abstinent during hospitalization and over half achieve to maintain their abstinence or at least reduce their consumption one month after discharge, proving that admission to hospitals is an excellent teachable moment to quit smoking.

Burden of disease from exposure to secondhand smoke in children in Europe.

BACKGROUND: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home and fetal SHS exposure during pregnancy are a major cause of disease among children. The aim of this study is quantifying the burden of disease due to SHS exposure in children and in pregnancy in 2006-2017 for the 28 European Union (EU) countries. METHODS: Exposure to SHS was estimated using a multiple imputation procedure based on the Eurobarometer surveys, and SHS exposure burden was estimated with the comparative risk assessment method using meta-analytical relative risks. Data on deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were collected from National statistics and from the Global Burden of Disease Study. RESULTS: Exposure to SHS and its attributable burden stalled in 2006-2017; in pregnant women, SHS exposure was 19.8% in 2006, 19.1% in 2010, and 21.0% in 2017; in children it was 10.1% in 2006, 9.6% in 2010, and 12.1% in 2017. In 2017, 35,633 DALYs among children were attributable to SHS exposure in the EU, mainly due to low birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive smoking bans up to 2010 contributed to reduce SHS exposure and its burden in children immediately after their implementation; however, SHS exposure still occurs, and in 2017, its burden in children was still relevant. IMPACT: Exposure to secondhand smoke at home and in pregnancy is a major cause of disease among children. Smoking legislation produced the adoption of voluntary smoking bans in homes; however, secondhand smoke exposure at home still occurs and its burden is substantial. In 2017, the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years in children attributable to exposure to secondhand smoke in the European Union countries were, respectively, 335 and 35,633. Low birth weight caused by secondhand smoke exposure in pregnancy showed the largest burden. Eastern European Union countries showed the highest burden.

Burden of disease from second-hand tobacco smoke exposure at home among adults from European Union countries in 2017: an analysis using a review of recent meta-analyses.

Smoke-free legislation reduced second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in public places, and indirectly promoted private smoke-free settings. Nevertheless, a large proportion of adults is still exposed to SHS at home. The aim of this paper is to quantify the burden of disease due to home SHS exposure among adults in the 28-European Union (EU) countries for year 2017. The burdens by gender from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breast cancer, ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, asthma, and diabetes were estimated in an original research analysis using the comparative risk assessment method. Relative risks of death/diseases by gender for adults exposed to SHS at home compared to not exposed ones were estimated updating existing meta-analyses. Prevalence of home SHS exposure by gender was estimated using a multiple imputation procedure based on Eurobarometer surveys. Data on mortality and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study. In 2017, 526,000 DALYs (0.36% of total DALYs) and 24,000 deaths (0.46% of total deaths) were attributable to home SHS exposure in the 28-EU countries, mainly from COPD and IHD. South-Eastern EU countries showed the highest burden, with proportion of DALYs/deaths attributable to SHS exposure on total higher than 0.50%/0.70%, whereas northern EU-countries showed the lowest burden, with proportions of DALYs/deaths lower than 0.25%/0.34%. The burden from SHS exposure is still significant in EU countries. More could be done to raise awareness of the health risks associated with SHS exposure at home.