[Lack of knowledge about smoking-related risks for diseases in the general public in Japan].
Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi
; 39(6): 389-93, 2001 Jun.
Article
in Ja
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11530385
ABSTRACT
Cigarette smoking is the primary preventable cause of various diseases and death. Smoking has been causally related to lung cancer, other malignancies, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. There have been few studies, however, of whether the ordinary citizen in Japan understand the risks of serious diseases caused by smoking. Four hundred and thirty six people attended a seminar of respiratory diseases entitled "Cigarette smoking and lung cancer; prevention and treatment of asthma; senile care and prevention of pneumonia". After the seminar, unsigned questionnaires were filled out by 403 of those in attendance. Three hundred eighty nine (165 males and 224 females) respondents correctly answered the questionnaires, and these were analyzed in the study. Attendants comprised 243 who had never smoked (63%), 99 former smokers (25%), and 39 current smokers (10%). Three hundred forty seven attendants (89%) answered that smoking is harmful to the health, and 371 (95%) that it is causally related to lung cancer. In contrast, lower numbers of attendants answered that smoking is causally related to other diseases pulmonary emphysema, 65% of the responses; chronic bronchitis, 68%; laryngeal cancer, 77%; myocardial infarction, 53%; and atherosclerosis, 49%. Of the 39 current smokers, 27 answered that they would stop smoking after the seminar. Although many people partly understand the risks of smoking, they do not have a clear knowledge of the risks of diseases besides lung cancer. Education about the risks of smoking and about smoking cessation is required.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Respiratory Tract Diseases
/
Smoking
/
Health Education
/
Knowledge
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
Ja
Journal:
Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi
Year:
2001
Document type:
Article