[Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice about smoking among male teachers in Tehran, Iran]

To assess knowledge, attitude and practice about smoking should be evaluated as their cigarette smoking may lead to smoking among teachers in Tehran, Iran. This was a cross sectional study carried out in Tehran, Iran. A random sample of teachers from 50 schools were selected. Data on knowledge, attitude and practice about smoking were recorded using a WHO based questionnaire. In all 551 male teachers were took part in the study. 150 teachers reported that they smoke more then 100 cigarettes of these 80 teachers [14.5%] reported to smoke daily, 40 teachers [7.3%] smoked occasionally and 30 teachers [4.5%] have quit smoking. So their cigarette smoking prevalence was stimated to be 27.2% [CI 95%:23.5%-31.1%]. The prevalence of smoking among teachers was not different in different educational districts [P=0.13]. Also, there was no statistical difference between the prevalence of smoker born in Tehran and elsewhere [P=0.18]. In addition, type of employment and smoking status were not associated [P=0.25]. However, the association between knowledge, attitude and practice and smoking status of teachers were found statistically significant [P<0.0001]. Since, smoking habits among teachers was similar to general population and because the students imitate their teachers, therefore, educational tobacco control programs for teachers should be designed and implemented in order to reduce tobacco smoking in this group and finally among the students

[Does smoking cessation result depend on smoking reason?]

Since the smoking reason for different smokers needs different treatment methods and special advices, it is necessary to specify these reasons. This study designed to know the main smoking causes in Iran, in order to design proper treatment methods and behavioral therapies for smoking cessation. In addition the study thought to evaluate the effects of these reasons on the quit results and the probable circumstances of these effects. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Tehran, Iran. All people attending to smoking cessation clinics [affillated to Research Institute for Tuberclosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences] were invited to take part in the study in year 2006-2008. Volunteers answered 13 items of the Iranian version of the Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale [MRSS], Fagerstrom test and demographic characteristics. All participants have been assessed by a physician and they participated in a four-session per week program including nicotine replacement and non-nicotinic therapies and behavioral therapy. All participants were followed-up for 6 and 12 months after quiting smoking. In all 822 participants including 590 men [68.7%] with mean age of 43.8 +/- 13.2 years were studied. All analyses were adjusted for sex and Fagerstrom test score. Pleasure to smoke was found as the principle reason for failure to smoking cessation in the end of clinical trial [P=0.004]. In 6 and 12 months follow-up, failed quitting was predicted by pleasure to smoke and hand-mouth activity score [P<0.05]. The study findings suggest that reason for smoking is associated with its quiting