Risk factors for smoking in adolescence: evidence from a cross-sectional survey in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking during adolescence is a major public health concern with far-reaching health implications. Adolescents who smoke are at an increased risk of developing long-term health problems and are more likely to continue smoking into adulthood. Therefore, it is vital to identify and understand the risk factors that contribute to adolescent smoking - which in turn facilitate the development of targeted prevention and intervention programs. METHODS: Data was drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted between October and December 2021, encompassing adolescents of adolescents aged 14 to 19 residing in Switzerland (n = 2,683). Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to explore which demographic, household, behavioural and psychographic factors are associated with current smoking status. RESULTS: The regression results showed higher odds of smoking for female respondents (OR 1.39; p-value 0.007); older adolescents (OR 1.30; p-value < 0.001); those living in the French-speaking part of Switzerland (OR 1.39; p-value 0.021), in suburban areas (OR 1.35; p-value 0.023) and with a smoker in the same household (OR 2.41; p-value < 0.001); adolescents consuming alcohol (OR 4.10; p-value < 0.001), cannabis products (OR 6.72; p-value < 0.001) and hookah (OR 5.07; p-value < 0.001) at least once a month; respondents not engaging in sports (OR 1.90; p-value < 0.001) or music (OR 1.42; p-value 0.031) as top five leisure activities and those experiencing high stress levels at home (OR 1.74; p-value < 0.001). Adolescents with high scores in health awareness (OR 0.33; p-value < 0.001), on the relational self-esteem scale (OR 0.78; p-value 0.054) and on the general well-being scale (OR 0.52; p-value 0.022) were less likely to smoke than their counterparts with lower scores. High risk-seeking was associated with higher odds of smoking (OR 2.15; p-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the importance of a comprehensive approach at both individual and institutional levels to reduce smoking rates in adolescents. More specifically, a holistic strategy that encompasses adolescents, families, schools and policymakers ranging from strengthening adolescents' self-esteem, smoking cessation support for parents, to increasing engagement in musical and physical activities, and enhancing health awareness in the school curriculum.

Split household and smoking behaviour of rural migrants in China.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to address the direct impact of split households on smoking behaviour. Three types of spilt households (sole migration, couple migration, and family migration) were incorporated to explore the concise effect of different split household forms. This study also examined factors that contributed to the narrowing gap in smoking prevalence between 2008 and 2018. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Rural Urban Migration (RUMiC-2009) and China Household Income Project (CHIP2018). Analyses were conducted using chi-squared tests/analysis of variance tests and multiple logit regression. The order probit model with sample selection was conducted to correct for selection bias. Fairlie decomposition was used to quantify the contribution of individual variables to the observed differences in smoking prevalence. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence for all migrants decreased by 5.79% between 2008 and 2018. The results in 2008 reveal the positive and significant contribution of couple migration (coefficient = -0.4608; 95% CI = [-0.6453, -0.2762]) and family migration (coefficient = -0.3705; 95% CI = [-0.5959, -0.1452]) on the reduction of smoking; the finding for family migration remained robust in 2018. Measurable factors partially explain the decline in smoking disparity. The migration of families, working in the construction and manufacturing industries, and educational attainment were the largest contributing factors to the declining gap in smoking prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in family migration and education, and decrease in the number of workers in the construction and manufacturing industries, contributed to a decrease in smoking prevalence. Public policies should target sole migrants, couple migrants, individuals with lower education levels, and those working in the construction and manufacturing industries.

Impact of the minimum wage increase on smoking behaviour: A quasi-experimental study in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: While there's a growing body of research studying the health effects of minimum wage increases, evidence of its impact on smoking is inconsistent. Using nationally representative statistics, our quasi-experimental study examines the impacts of South Korea's 2018 minimum wage increase on smoking patterns, offering a distinctive context due to the significant wage growth and the country's permissive smoking culture. METHODS: Using the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS), we conducted a difference-in-differences analysis using two-way fixed effect (TWFE) and Callaway and Sant'Anna Difference-in-differences (CSDID) methods. The study sample (n = 3494) included individuals aged 19-64 at baseline in 2016, and employed in the entire study period (2016-2019). RESULTS: The model results suggest a roughly 2% increase in the probability of current smoking with an insignificant impact on average daily cigarette consumption following the 2018 minimum wage increase in Korea. These effects were most pronounced among men and age groups (45-64). We also found policy effects on those earning up to 150% of the minimum wage. CONCLUSION: In a culture with widespread acceptance of smoking, an exogenous increase in disposable income due to elevated minimum wage might enhance vulnerability to societal pressure to smoke. Although TWFE and CSDID both suggest the same overall trend, the latter approach allows a more detailed examination by acknowledging heterogeneous treatment effects. These results could guide policymakers to contemplate the potential for increased smoking resulting from minimum wage hikes in societies where tobacco use is common, and accordingly strategize anti-smoking public health initiatives.

Determinants of cigarette smoking and smoking frequency among women of reproductive age in Nigeria: evidence from a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a leading cause of avoidable deaths and attributable disability-adjusted life years globally. Yet, the determinants of smoking practices among women are understudied. This study assessed the determinants of smoking and smoking frequency among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) were used in this study (n = 41,821). The data were adjusted for sampling weight, stratification, and cluster sampling design. The outcome variables were smoking status and smoking frequency (daily smoking and occasional smoking). The predictor variables included women's socio-demographic and household characteristics. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to evaluate the association between outcome and predictor variables. All variables significant in bivariate analyses were further analysed using complex sample logistics regression. Statistical significance was set at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking among women of reproductive age is 0.3%. The prevalence of smoking frequency is 0.1% (daily) and 0.2% (occasionally). Overall, women aged 25-34 (AOR = 2.13, 95%CI: 1.06-4.29, ρ = 0.034), residing in the South-south region (AOR = 9.45, 95%CI: 2.04-43.72, ρ <0.001), being formerly married (AOR = 3.75, 95%CI: 1.52-9.21, ρ = 0.004), in female-headed households (AOR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.29-5.08, ρ = 0.007) and owning mobile phones (AOR = 2.10, 95%CI: 1.13-3.90, ρ = 0.020) were more likely to smoke. Whereas female-headed households (AOR = 4.34, 95%CI: 1.37-13.77, ρ = 0.013) and being formerly married (AOR = 6.37, 95%CI: 1.67-24.24, ρ = 0.007) predisposed to daily smoking, age 15-24 (AOR = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.02-0.64, ρ = 0.014) was protective of daily smoking among women. Owning mobile phones (AOR = 2.43, 95%CI: 1.17-5.06, ρ = 0.018) increased the odds of occasional smoking among women. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rates of smoking and smoking frequency are low among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Women-centred approaches to tobacco prevention and cessation must become evidence-informed by incorporating these determinants into interventions targeting women of reproductive age in Nigeria.

E-cigarette use and conventional cigarette smoking among European students: findings from the 2019 ESPAD survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Representative data on e-cigarette use among European adolescents are scant. This study reports current vaping and tobacco smoking individual and country-specific correlates among European students. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey: 2019 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) collecting data on risk behaviours on a representative sample of 16-year-old students. SETTING: A total of 35 European countries, 25-30 with Tobacco Control Scale (TCS) and TCS components PARTICIPANTS: A total of 99 648 students (49.1% males) turning 16 years in the survey year. MEASUREMENTS: Data on current cigarette and e-cigarette use were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire which also collected socio-demographics and individual and family characteristics. ESPAD data were integrated with country-level data on TCS and selected TCS parameters to assess their association with the prevalence of current cigarette and e-cigarette use. FINDINGS: Of the 99 648 participating students, 12.4% were current e-cigarette users, from 5.5% in Serbia to 41.4% in Monaco; 19.3% current smokers, from 5.1% in Iceland to 32.4% in Italy. Compared with non-users, current e-cigarette users less frequently came from an average well-off family [odds ratio (OR) = 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.80-0.90] and lived in countries with higher cigarette prices (OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.50-0.99), restrictive measures on tobacco advertising and promotion (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.63-0.99) and intermediate implementation of tobacco control measures (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38-0.85). Current vapers were more frequently life ever smokers (OR = 7.31, 95% CI = 6.47-8.25), were early smokers (OR = 4.35, 95% CI = 3.66-5.17), males (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.55-1.67), from non-traditional families (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.34-1.53), with relatively low parental education (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.10-1.20). Compared with non-smokers, current smokers had similar family characteristics to vapers, and were less likely to live in countries with higher cigarette prices (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.49-0.99) and higher spending on public anti-tobacco media campaigns (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.10-0.50). CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette use among European adolescents is associated with weaker tobacco control measures, particularly on tobacco price, advertising and promotion. Besides preventing tobacco smoking, the adoption of governmental tobacco control policies in European countries also seems to contribute to the prevention of vaping among adolescents.

Exploring Factors Contributing to the Smoking Behaviour among Hong Kong Chinese Young Smokers during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

COVID-19 has significant impacts on young smokers in their smoking behaviors. This qualitative study summarises the lived experience of young smokers during COVID-19. Moreover, through their lived experience, we aim to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic influence tobacco use behaviours in this population. A purposive sampling of 48 smokers aged between 17-25 years old is individually interviewed for 30 to 45 min. All interviews are transcribed in verbatim and analysed by two researchers separately using Colaizzi's method of descriptive phenomenology. The results reveal the following six important themes, which could explain the mixed pattern of smoking behaviour changes in young smokers: (1) perceptions of COVID-19 and its association with smoking, (2) more time at home, (3) taking masks off to smoke, (4) the effects of COVID-19 on smokers' financial status and academic performance, (5) reduced social gatherings, and (6) restricted access to tobacco products. To conclude, this pandemic and the anti-pandemic measures, i.e., mask mandates, stay-at-home and work-from-home orders, and class suspension, result in both new obstacles and new advantages for smoking cessation among young people. More studies should be performed to monitor any transition of tobacco products and the trajectory of use in this population during this pandemic, thus informing public health policy making.

Perceptions, behaviours and attitudes towards smoking held by the male partners of Chinese pregnant women: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Direct associations of tobacco exposure during pregnancy with pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes have been proven. Previous studies suggest that expecting a child provides a valuable opportunity to promote behavioural changes, such as smoking cessation, among the male partners of pregnant women. Thorough understandings of Chinese expectant fathers' smoking behaviour during the transition to fatherhood is a prerequisite to the development of appropriate interventions to facilitate smoking cessation. This study aimed to explore the perceptions, behaviours and attitudes related to smoking among male partners of pregnant women in China. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological approach was adopted. A purposive sample of expectant fathers aged 18 years or older who had a tobacco use history within the past year were recruited at obstetrics and gynaecology clinics and invited to participate in one-to-one, 20-30-min semi-structured interviews. The data analysis followed Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological method. RESULTS: Twenty-five expectant fathers were interviewed. Four themes were generated: 1) the benefits of smoking and respondents' misperceptions of the impact of smoking and SHS and neglectful attitude of the impact of smoking, which were given as the major reasons for continuing to smoke; 2) factors contributing to smoking cessation, including concern for the potential health impact of continued smoking on the pregnant partner and baby, the role of being father, and the encouragement to quit from family members; and 3) perceived barriers to smoking cessation, including withdrawal symptoms or cigarette cravings, absence of smoking cessation support, and increasing stress. CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the perception, behaviours, and attitudes related to smoking among Chinese expectant fathers. The findings of this study can guide healthcare professionals and policymakers in combining the distribution of educational information about the hazards of SHS for maternal and neonatal health with smoking cessation assistance for expectant fathers through policy initiatives and other types of incentives and programmes targeted to enhance smoking cessation among this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prospectively registered at clinicaltrial.org ( NCT03401021 ) on 8 Jan 2018.

Exploring attitudes towards smoking behaviour and cessation among hospitalised smokers via a socio-ecological framework: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable mortality and disability. Smoke-free policies in healthcare settings have been implemented as a public health measure. This scoping review aims to explore attitudes on smokers' cessation in smoke-free healthcare settings using a socio-ecological framework. METHODS: Four databases were searched for terms: smoking cessation, patient attitudes, and smoke-free policy. Of 420 studies, 17 met full inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The review identified four socio-ecological aspects of smoking cessation in smoke-free healthcare settings: Intrapersonal factors (health literacy, health conditions, and self-efficacy), interpersonal factors (social support, peer pressure, and social responsibility), healthcare factors (perceived mixed messages, healthcare setting, clinical, psychosocial and health promotion supports), and societal factors (restrictions on smoking in a public place and social acceptability of smoking). Smoke-free policies effectively encouraged cessation in some patients but were ineffective in those that felt a loss of autonomy. Provision of smoke breaks within smoke-free policies was considered a mixed message. CONCLUSIONS: Holistic strategies are required to interconnect the four socio-ecological dimensions for successful smoking cessation.

Trajectory of smoking behaviour during the first 6 months after diagnosis of lung cancer: A study from Taiwan.

AIMS: To identify different classes of change pattern/ trajectory of tobacco smoking behaviour after diagnosis of lung cancer using multi-wave data and to explore factors associated with the class membership. DESIGN: This is a multi-wave observational study. METHODS: Smoking behaviour data were collected at diagnosis and then every month for 6 months from 133 newly diagnosed people with lung cancer who had recently quit smoking or continued to smoke at diagnosis. These patients were recruited from three medical centres and data were collected from May 2014 to January 2017. Smoking behaviour was assessed based on patients' self-reports on whether they smoked during the last month (yes/no) for a total of seven times. Mixture latent Markov model and logistic regression were used to analyse data. RESULTS: Two latent classes of smoking trajectory were identified among recent quitters or current smokers of people with lung cancer, namely "perseverance for abstinence" and "indecisive for abstinence." Patients who were younger age (OR = 0.95, p = 0.026), exposure to second-hand smoke (OR = 3.35, p = 0.012) and lower self-efficacy for not smoking (OR = 0.96, p = 0.011) were more likely to belong to the class of "indecisive for abstinence." CONCLUSIONS: Heterogeneous classes of smoking trajectory existed in newly diagnosed people with lung cancer. The risk factors associated with a less favourable smoking trajectory can be incorporated into tailored smoking-cessation programs for patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer. IMPACT: The dynamic trajectory of smoking behaviour had not been adequately explored among newly diagnosed people with lung cancer. Two classes of smoking trajectory and the predictors associated with the class membership were identified. These findings suggest that the diagnosis of cancer is a teachable moment for smoking cessation. Patients with younger age, lower self-efficacy of not smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke at home need special attention.

The smoking paradox: exploring why attitudes toward cigarette smoking are a weak predictor of cigarette smoking.

OBJECTIVE: An attitude change perspective represents a central line of research in the smoking literature. This line of research focuses on influencing individuals' attitudes toward smoking in order to alleviate the negative outcomes of smoking and to achieve positive smoking behaviours. This line of research, however, does not explain why attitudes toward cigarette smoking are a weak predictor of cigarette smoking, an indication of a smoking paradox. The current study introduces two domain-general factors to explore this smoking paradox. DESIGN: We used an online survey and collected data from American subjects (n = 328) via a crowdsourcing platform, Amazon Mechanical Turk, in 2018. RESULTS: We found that the association between attitude toward smoking and the likelihood of smoking is significantly weaker when individuals perceive a low probability of risk and/or believe that this probable risk will only occur in the distant future, after many years. These results suggest that smoking may not be consistent with attitude because individuals perceive low probability of risk and/or they temporally discount the occurrence of this probable risk. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that novel strategies that incorporate the concepts of perceived risk probability and temporal discounting of the probable risk are needed for smoking cessation.

Bidirectional effects between loneliness, smoking and alcohol use: evidence from a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Loneliness is associated with cigarette smoking and problematic alcohol use. Observational evidence suggests these associations arise because loneliness increases substance use; however, there is potential for reverse causation (problematic drinking damages social networks, leading to loneliness). With conventional epidemiological methods, controlling for (residual) confounding and reverse causality is difficult. This study applied Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess bidirectional causal effects among loneliness, smoking behaviour and alcohol (mis)use. MR uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to estimate the causal effect of an exposure on an outcome, if the assumptions are satisfied. DESIGN: Our primary method was inverse-variance weighted (IVW) regression and the robustness of these findings was assessed with five different sensitivity methods. SETTING: European ancestry. PARTICIPANTS: Summary-level data were drawn from the largest available independent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of loneliness (n = 511 280), smoking (initiation (n = 249 171), cigarettes per day (n = 249 171) and cessation (n = 143 852), alcoholic drinks per week (n = 226 223) and alcohol dependence (n = 46 568). MEASUREMENTS: Genetic variants predictive of the exposure variable were selected as instruments from the respective GWAS. FINDINGS: There was weak evidence of increased loneliness leading to higher likelihood of initiating smoking, smoking more cigarettes, and a lower likelihood of quitting smoking. Additionally, there was evidence that initiating smoking increases loneliness [IVW, ß = 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.22-0.38, P = 2.8 × 10-13 ]. We found no clear evidence for a causal effect of loneliness on drinks per week (IVW, ß = 0.01, 95% CI = -0.11, 0.13, P = 0.865) or alcohol dependence (IVW, ß = 0.09, 95% CI = -0.19, 0.36, P = 0.533) nor of alcohol use on loneliness (drinks per week IVW, ß = 0.09, 95% CI = -0.02, 0.22, P = 0.076; alcohol dependence IVW, ß = 0.06, 95% CI = -0.02, 0.13, P  =  0.162). CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be tentative evidence for causal, bidirectional, increasing effects between loneliness and cigarette smoking, especially for smoking initiation increasing loneliness.

Smoking Genes: A Case-Control Study of Dopamine Transporter Gene (SLC6A3) and Dopamine Receptor Genes (DRD1, DRD2 and DRD3) Polymorphisms and Smoking Behaviour in a Malay Male Cohort.

Dopamine receptor and dopamine transporter genes polymorphisms have been associated with cigarette smoking behaviour in different populations. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3 (rs27072)) and the dopamine receptor genes (DRD1 (rs686), DRD2 (rs1800497) and DRD3 (rs7653787)) and their contribution to smoking behaviour in a Malay male population. We identified 476 participants over the age of 18 years comprising 238 smokers and 238 non-smokers. Information such as age, height, weight, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, marital status, and smoking status of close family members were taken. For the genetic study, we genotyped four genes (SLC6A3 (rs27072), DRD1 (rs686), DRD2 (rs1800497) and DRD3 (rs7653787)) using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method and further confirmed our findings with sequencing. Dopamine receptor genes (DRD1, DRD2 and DRD3) were found to be associated with smoking behaviour in a Malay male population. The dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3) did not show this association. Significant differences were observed between smokers' and non-smokers' age, systolic blood pressure, marital status and family members who smoke. Smoking behaviour is significantly influenced by genetic variations of DRD1, DRD2 and DRD3 in a Malay male population.

Erratum: Comparing smoking behavior between female-tomale and male-to-female transgender adults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18332/tpc/114513.].

The Association between Esports Participation, Health and Physical Activity Behaviour.

We investigated the association between obesity, self-reported physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and perceived health in esports players, and the influence of player in-game rank. Data was collected with an online survey with an international participant sample of esports players representing five esports and all skill levels (n = 1772). Esports players were more likely to be categorized as normal weight, or obesity class 2 and 3 and as non-smokers (92%) and non-drinkers (65.1%) compared to international reference data. Esports players met international physical activity guidelines less than global general population. Esports players ranked in the top 10% were more physically active compared to the remaining esports players. As esports player in-game rank increased, so did the amount of time spent playing esports. Although esports players appear generally healthy, a small group was significantly obese and most esports players did not meet physical activity guidelines, indicating potential future health risks.

Comparing smoking behavior between female-to-male and male-to-female transgender adults.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the association between current smoking and gender identity among transgender individuals. METHODS: Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey distributed among transgender individuals attending the Houston Pride Festival and those seeking care at a local transgender health clinic. Relevant variables were compared between female-to-male (FTM) and male-to-female (MTF) transgender individuals using χ2, Fisher's exact, and two-sample t-tests, when appropriate. Gender identity was used to predict current smoking status using logistic regression, adjusting for other sociodemographic determinants. RESULTS: The study sample (N=132) comprised 72 MTF (54.5%) and 60 FTM (45.5%) transgender individuals. Mean age of participants was 31.8 years. The sample was racially and ethnically diverse: 45.8% Caucasian, 25.2% Hispanic/Latino, 16.8% African American, and 12.2% other. Current smoking prevalence was 26.7% and 13.9% among FTM and MTF individuals, respectively. Transgender individuals were more likely to self-report current smoking if they were FTM (OR=3.76; 95% CI: 1.17-12.06; p=0.026) or were insured (OR=4.49; 95% CI: 1.53-13.18; p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on important findings by examining intragroup differences in smoking behavior among the transgender population. However, further research is needed for tailoring smoking prevention and cessation interventions for transgender subgroups.

Parental Perceptions of Children's Exposure to Tobacco Smoke and Parental Smoking Behaviour.

Around 40% of children are exposed to tobacco smoke, increasing their risk of poor health. Previous research has demonstrated misunderstanding among smoking parents regarding children's exposure. The parental perceptions of exposure (PPE) measure uses visual and textual vignettes to assess awareness of exposure to smoke. The study aimed to determine whether PPE is related to biochemical and reported measures of exposure in children with smoking parents. Families with at least one smoking parent and a child ≤ age 8 were recruited. In total, 82 parents completed the PPE questionnaire, which was assessed on a scale of 1-7 with higher scores denoting a broader perception of exposure. Parents provided a sample of their child's hair and a self-report of parental smoking habits. Parents who reported smoking away from home had higher PPE ratings than parents who smoke in and around the home (p = 0.026), constituting a medium effect size. PPE corresponded with home smoking frequency, with rare or no home exposure associated with higher PPE scores compared to daily or weekly exposure (p < 0.001). PPE was not significantly related to hair nicotine but was a significant explanatory factor for home smoking location. PPE was significantly associated with parental smoking behaviour, including location and frequency. High PPE was associated with lower exposure according to parental report. This implies that parental understanding of exposure affects protective behaviour and constitutes a potential target for intervention to help protect children.

Smoking behaviours and attitudes towards campus-wide tobacco control policies among staff and students: a cross-sectional survey at the University of Birmingham.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco control policies have potential to be an effective strategy for the reduction of smoking prevalence and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in tertiary educational settings worldwide. The aims of this study were to collect baseline data among staff and students, to measure smoking behaviours and attitudes towards introduction of campus-wide tobacco control policies within a UK higher education setting. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using data collected by web-based questionnaire administered to employed staff and enrolled students (undergraduate/postgraduate) at the University of Birmingham from May 2016 to April 2017. Information was obtained regarding demographic characteristics, tobacco usage patterns and attitudes towards a revised campus tobacco control policy using a 21-item survey tool. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between participant characteristics and support for smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policy options, evaluated by crude and adjusted Odds Radios (OR) after controlling for confounding factors (significance level: P < 0.05). RESULTS: A total of 934 survey responses were received, of whom 780 participants provided complete information on staff or student status and were included in the present analysis. Current smoking prevalence was 14% (N = 109; 95% confidence interval (CI) 11.6-16.6). Overall, 66.3% (95% CI: 62.9-69.7) of participants supported a smoke-free campus; 68.5% (95% CI: 65.2-71.8) endorsed restrictions for tobacco sales and just under half of respondents (47.3%; 95% CI: 43.8-50.9) supported a ban for electronic cigarettes/vaping device use on campus. Smoking status was an independent predictor of support for tobacco control, with the lowest level of support for a smoke-free campus among daily (adjusted OR 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01-0.05) and intermittent smokers (adjusted OR 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02-0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the majority of staff and students participating in this baseline survey supported implementation of a smoke-free or comprehensive tobacco-free campus policy. These findings may inform the development and future implementation of a revised tobacco control policy at the university which reflects contemporary attitudes and considers a broad range of implementation issues, including behaviour change and environmental adaptations.

Evolution of attitudes, trends and perceptions of smoking among middle and secondary school students in the Gharb Region, Morocco, 2010-2015.

BACKGROUND:  Tobacco use is an important public health issue. Morocco implemented a tobacco control programme, which has been ongoing among students at middle and secondary schools since 2010. AIM:  This study aims to compare the trend in smoking among the programme beneficiaries with the results of the initial study conducted prior to the implementation of the programme. SETTING:  This study was conducted in middle and secondary schools of the Gharb Region in Morocco between 2010 and 2015. METHODS:  Two cross-sectional studies were conducted in 2010 and 2015 in the middle and secondary schools of the Gharb Region. Multistage cluster sampling was used. The information was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS:  In the first study in 2010, 5312 students participated, and in the second one in 2015, 4208 students participated. The level of information on smoking and its effects was higher in 2015 (94.0%) than in 2010 (92.5%). In 2010, parents, primary schools and television and radio were more involved in student information on smoking compared to 2015. The proportion of students claiming that tobacco was not a pleasure (86.3%) and that it does not calm nerves (76.5%) was significantly higher in 2015 than in 2010. The prevalence of smoking increased significantly in 2015 (2.9%) against 2010 (1.8%). CONCLUSION:  This study reports the general positive evolution in knowledge about smoking and its effects. Despite that the prevalence of smokers increased in 2015. The results suggest the need to address family influences on adolescent smoking and to investigate participation of schools in education and training students in tobacco dependence prevention.

Residential environments and smoking behaviour patterns among young adults: A prospective study using data from the Interdisciplinary Study of Inequalities in Smoking cohort.

Young adults have the highest prevalence of smoking among all age groups. Studies have shown associations between presence/density of tobacco retail and presence of smoker accommodation and smoking prevalence. However, little is known about their potential to influence different smoking patterns including initiation, maintenance, or cessation. This is important because smoking behaviour patterns in young adults may be subject to ongoing changes. Moreover, smoking pattern determinants may be different to those of smoking prevalence, and feature-pattern associations may be scale-dependent, requiring the consideration of different analytical spatial units. We examined associations between prospectively-measured smoking behaviour patterns and presence/density of tobacco retail, and presence of smoker accommodation facilities across 2 nested spatial units in Montreal, Canada. Data were from 18 to 25 year-old Montreal residents who had participated in the Interdisciplinary Study of Inequalities in Smoking cohort both at baseline in 2011-2012 and follow-up in 2014 and resided in the same area at follow-up. 2-year smoking behaviour patterns were assessed for 2 cohorts based on participants' smoking status at baseline. Associations were examined using multilevel logistic models. Young adults who were smokers at baseline residing in areas with higher local-level presence of tobacco retail were less likely to quit smoking (i.e.: to be non-smokers for fewer than 2 years). Higher presence of smoker accommodation was not associated with smoking patterns at any scale. Findings provide evidence of scale-specific associations between residential environment features and smoking behaviour patterns in young adults, which may point to specific exposure-outcome processes underlying these associations.