[Knowledge about the dangers of tobacco and the preparation of school employees to teach on the issue of smoking among students].

There is a common belief that knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking is well known to all members of the population, both smokers and non-smokers. Despite of this, the high percentage of the population has a limited amount of information in this area. Teachers are a group, which is responsible for spreading the knowledge on health behavior. However, to be able to effectively conduct educational activities they must have adequate preparation in this regard. The aim of the study was to investigate knowledge about the dangers of tobacco and the preparation of school employees to teach on the issue of smoking among students. Material and Methods: During the period from November 2014 and May 2015 the survey was conducted among all teachers working in 60 schools in Piotrkowski county. The study used a questionnaire adapted from the study Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS). The filled in questionnaires were returned by 1044 teachers. Results: Despite many years of educational activities about the harmful consequences of smoking tobacco 3.5% of the respondents claimed that smoking does not cause serious diseases, while 3.7% of respondents declared their lack of knowledge on the subject. 40% of teachers reported that they are inadequately prepared to teach on tobacco control. It is necessary to implement community- based education programs aimed at increasing the knowledge of the health consequences of smoking tobacco. There is a need to implement free, professional training on tobacco issues for teachers to prepare them to carry out effective anti-tobacco activities among children and adolescents.

Predictors of E-Cigarette Use Susceptibility-A Study of Young People from a Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Rural Area in Poland.

Identification of the youth at risk of e-cigarette use is crucial for development of effective prevention strategies. The current study aims at evaluation of predictors of susceptibility to e-cigarette initiation and experimentation among adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 1693 students (non-current users of e-cigarettes) attending 21 schools in Piotrkowski district (a socially disadvantaged rural area in central Poland). The regression models were applied so as to study factors linked to susceptibility to e-cigarette use among never users (n = 1054) and ever users (n = 639) of e-cigarettes, with susceptibility defined as the absence of a firm decision not to use these products. A high proportion of the youth was susceptible to e-cigarette use (68% of never and 78% of ever e-cigarette users). The adjusted model confirmed the following risk factors: smoking parents and friends (never users: OR = 3.0; p < 0.001; OR = 2.0; p < 0.05; ever users: OR = 2.2; OR = 2.2; p < 0.01), alcohol consumption (never users: moderate drinking OR = 2.9; p < 0.001; binge drinking OR = 2.2; p < 0.01; ever users: moderate drinking OR = 4.2; p < 0.001), cigarette smoking (never users: OR = 14.1; ever users: OR = 11.3; p < 0.001), and perception that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes (never users: OR = 1.8; p < 0.001). The youth whose mothers had a medium and high educational level (never users: OR = 2.7; p < 0.01; OR = 2.7; p < 0.05; ever users: OR = 5.4; OR = 4.4; p < 0.001), those who perceived girls who use e-cigarettes as more attractive (never users: OR = 4.1; p < 0.001; ever users: OR = 2.9; p < 0.01), and secondary school students (ever users: OR = 5.6; p < 0.001) had higher odds of susceptibility to e-cigarette use. The youth who had more money per month were less susceptible to e-cigarette experimentation (OR = 0.4; p < 0.001). A multi-level intervention approach, considering vulnerable populations, is required to prevent the youth from e-cigarette initiation and experimentation.

Gender, age, social disadvantage and quitting smoking in Argentina and Uruguay.

INTRODUCTION: Cessation of tobacco use has the potential to provide the greatest immediate benefits for tobacco control. Understanding the social determinants of smoking cessation is an essential requirement for increasing smoking cessation at the population level. The purpose of this study was to analyze the socio-economic dimensions associated with cessation success among adults in Argentina and Uruguay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), a cross-sectional, population-based, nationally representative survey conducted in Argentina (n=5,383) and Uruguay (n=4,833) was utilized. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses with results being presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were applied to study differences among those respondents who sustained smoking abstinence (≥1 year) and those who continued smoking. RESULTS: The GATS study revealed that social gradients in tobacco quitting exist in Argentina and Uruguay. Being aged 25-34, particularly men in Uruguay, women in Argentina, low educated men in Argentina and having a lower asset index were associated with reduced odds for quitting. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that are driving differences in smoking cessation between diverse social groups in Latin America countries need to be considered when implementing relevant interventions to ensure tobacco control strategies work effectively for all population segments.