Smoking-related behaviours of pregnant women depending on their place of residence.

OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a commonly recognized risk factor of civilization diseases. Despite many educational programmes concerning harmful effects of tobacco smoking, this habit is still very popular. Particularly alarming is a high percentage of pregnant women who smoke. METHODS: The aim of the study was to analyse the prevalence of smoking among pregnant women depending on their place of residence. The research was conducted in randomly selected 30 outpatient clinics for women in Lodz and 16 outpatient clinics in rural communes of the Lodz province. The epidemiological analysis included 400 women. Collected data were processed statistically using the descriptive methods and statistical inference. RESULTS: It has been demonstrated that smoking in the past was more popular among city residents than countryside residents (58.2% and 47.9%, respectively). Women living in the city smoked almost three times more frequently during the whole pregnancy than the respondents from the countryside (13.4% and 4.3%, respectively). Furthermore, every fifth respondent living in the urban area (f=0.21) smoked over 10 cigarettes a day, and every fourth respondent from rural communes (f=0.24) smoked from 5 to 10 cigarettes a day. However, in the month preceding the research, pregnant women from rural areas smoked slightly more frequently as compared to the subjects from the city. In the group of pregnant women who smoked in the past or who smoke at present, regardless from their place of residence, every other woman did not breastfeed her baby. 6.1% of city residents and 4.3% of countryside residents declared that they smoked during the breastfeeding period. CONCLUSIONS: Within the analysed population the influence of place of residence on the prevalence of active smoking, number of smoked cigarettes and giving up smoking during pregnancy and breastfeeding period has been evidenced.

[Frequency of smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and using drugs by the junior high school youth]. / Czestosc palenia tytoniu, picia alkoholu i zazywania narkotyków przez mlodziel, klas gimnazjalnych.

There is systematic decrease in the age of tobacco, alcohol and drug initiation in Poland among children and adolescents. Education concerning damage caused by smoking tobacco drinking alcohol and taking drugs, if started in due course, is of essence when it comes to the inhibition of these unfavourable phenomena. The aim of this work was to recognise the participation of smokers, people who drink alcohol and take drugs among students of junior high school as well as checking the dependency between early tobacco initiation and taking to drugs and alcohol among the youth. In March 2014, 288 students of 1-3 grades were included in the study of some selected junior high schools from the Moniecki region in Podlaskie voivodeship. While collecting empirical material, anonymous survey was carried out including 35 questions. Students were asked to fill it in freely during a lesson. In order to elaborate the collected data, descriptive meth, ods were used as well as methods of statistical interference. 163 women (56.6%) and 125 men (43.4%) were included in the survey. The most numerous group consisted of respondents at the age of 15 (40.1%) In the surveyed group, 100 students (34.7%) admitted to smoking at least one cigarette in their life. 6.3% of the respondents (18 people) smoked daily, whereas 9.0% (26 people) claimed they smoked occasionally. Majority of the surveyed people (51%, 147 people) answered that they had already drunk alcohol. 2.4% of the respondents (7 people) declared drinking daily whereas 18.4% (53 people) claimed to be drinking occasionally. Every tenth junior high school student stated the had used drugs at least once in their life (10.1%, 29 people). Despite the law in Poland prohibiting drug possession and trade as well as alcohol and tobacco purchase and consumption among minors, frequency of drinking alcohol, smoking cigarette, and using drugs was high among the junior high school students.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may predict exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in schoolchildren with atopic asthma.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for the performance of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) tests in the monitoring of childhood asthma control. We aimed to evaluate whether in children with atopic asthma, EIB can be predicted by one or more of the following parameters or by their combination: fractional exhaled nitric-oxide (FeNO), allergy profile, asthma treatment, total IgE serum concentration and eosinophil blood count (EBC). METHODS: It was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. We evaluated data from medical documentation of children with atopic asthma who had performed standardized spirometric exercise challenge test. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty six patients with atopic asthma, aged 5-18, were included in the analysis. There were two groups of patients: the EIB group (n=54) and the no-EIB group (n=72). The median FeNO level prior to exercise in the EIB group was 27.6 vs. 16.3 ppb in the no-EIB group (p=0.002). FeNO level higher than 16 ppb had the highest diagnostic value to confirm EIB. When using the FeNO level of >16 ppb, the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive and positive predictive values for EIB were 83%, 46.9%, 74.2%, and 60%, respectively. In the EIB group, the degree of FeNO elevation did correlate positively with the absolute fall in FEV(1) (p=0.002; r=0.45). The FeNO value of >16 ppb, EBC value of >350 cell/mm(3) and allergy to house dust mites presented the highest odds ratios of EIB. However, the FeNO value of >16 ppb was the only independent odds ratio of EIB. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated FeNO level increased the odds of EIB in asthmatic schoolchildren, independently of other asthma severity markers and the intensity of anti-asthma therapy. It seems likely that FeNO measurement may act as a screening tool and help to prevent under-diagnosis and under-treatment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in schoolchildren with atopic asthma.

[Teachers attitudes towards smoke-free regulations]. / Opinie i postawy nauczycieli wobec zakazu palenia w miejscach publicznych.

The aim of the study was to analyze the teachers attitudes towards smoke-free regulations in public places. The study population consisted of 348 teachers. Among the study participants the questionnaire was conducted including socio-demographic characteristic and smoking profile. Detailed information was collected about teachers' opinion on smoke-free public places. About 13% of study participants declared current daily tobacco smoking and 5% smoked occasionally. Almost all study participants (90%-93%) are in favor of smoking ban in offices, health and educational buildings and sport facilities. 83% supported smoking ban in workplaces. Most of the teachers were in favor of smoke-free restaurants (71%) but they were less likely to support smoke-free bars, pubs and clubs (55%). The percentage of teachers who supported total ban on smoking in the presence of pregnant women was 94% and in the presence of children 93%. About 27%of the study subjects did not accept the concept of raising taxes on tobacco. Total ban on tobacco advertising was accepted by 70% of teachers and support for pictorial warning on tobacco packages declared 75% of participants. About 45% of study population indicated that they noted other teachers smoked at school (where smoking is banned). For students such percentages were even higher (76%). It is important to strengthen educational and informational activities to increase public awareness on health consequences of active and passive smoking and the ways of elimination of such exposures.

[Comparison of behaviour concerning smoking tobacco among male and female students who begin their studies in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 academic years at the Health Science Department]. / Porównanie zachowan dotyczacych palenia tytoniu studentek i studentów Wydzialu Nauk o Zdrowiu rozpoczynajacych nauke w roku akademickim 2007/2008 oraz 2008/2009.

Despite the many years of systematic antinicotine action worldwide and In Poland, the percentage of people inhaling tobacco smoke in our country is still high. This fact is reflected in the number of people who begin their university career. The cause of a particular anxiety is great popularity of smoking among the students of medical universities and departments. The aim of this work is to present the direction of changes that take place in the behavior concerning smoking tobacco among those starting their education at the Health Science Department. The subject of the analysis is the results of research concerning frequency of smoking among male and female students of the first years of all the chairs of the Health Science Department at the Medical University of Lódz. In order to collect the empirical material, an auditory survey was used. In the tests carried out in 2007/2008, 479 men and women took part (93.5% of all the students), and in 2008/2009 473 people (93.1% of all the students). In 2007/2008, 34.2% of respondents admitted to smoking (164 people) and the following year 39.7% (188 people). In 2008/2009, among female students of the first years, 27.4% (86 people) of them smoked and among male students 47.3% (78 people). In 2007/2008, 34.2% (164 people) admitted to smoking and the following year 39.7% (188 people). In 2007/2008, among the female students of the first years, 27.4% (86 people) of them smoked and among the male students 47.3% (78 people). In 2008/2009, the ratio of smoking women was 37.1% (104 people) and men 43.5% (84 people). Participation of people inhaling tobacco smoke among those studying at the first year of Health Science Department at the Medical University of Lódz in 2008/2009 was higher in comparison with the year before. Worryingly grew the number of smoking females, whereas the number of smoking males lowered.

[Behaviour concerning smoking among people from the closest environment of students who begin their studies at the Health Science Department]. / Zachowania dotyczace palenia tytoniu osób z najblizszego otoczenia studentów rozpoczynajacych nauke na Wydziale Nauk o Zdrowiu.

It can be seen from many researches that popularity of smoking among the students is still high. Due to that fact, there is a necessity to search for factor that would influence the behavior and attitude to smoking among female and male students as early as their first year at university, and also include this in preventive programmes. The aim of the work is to present the behavior concerning smoking among people from the closest environment of students who begin their studies at the Health Science Department and determine their influence on behavior and attitudes of the tested towards smoking. The subject matter of the analysis are selected fragments of research carried out between the years 2007/2008 and 2008/ 2009 among students who began their studies at The Health Science Department at the Medical University of Lódz. For collecting the empirical material, auditorial questionnaires were used. In every academic year that was studied, over 470 people took part in the test, which is over 93% of students who are on dean's lists. Among the people smoking in the closest environment, respondents pointed to their friends most frequently: in 2007/2008 it was 49.1% of the surveyed (235 people) and in 2008/2009 57.1% (270 people). The second place belonged to "one smoking parent". In 2007/2008, 31.7% of the tested students (152 people) lived with one parent inhaling tobacco smoke before beginning their studies at university and the year after that, 30.2% (143 people). In 2007/2008, 16.1% of the tested (77 people) claimed that no-one smoked in their closest environment and a year later, the same answer was given by 15.2% of the tested (72 people). Among the surveyed on the first years of studies, the ratio of smoking students in whose closest environment there was no-one smoking, was different significantly to the ratio of smoking students who had people inhaling tobacco smoke in their environment.

[Smoking prevalence and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among school administrators]. / Rozpowszechnienie palenia tytoniu i bierna ekspozycja na dym tytoniowy wsród pracowników administracyjnych szkól.

The aim of the study was to evaluate smoking prevalence and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among school administrators. The study population consisted of 320 administrative workers in schools from Lodz district. Among the study participants self-administrative questionnaire was conducted. The questionnaire focused on socio-demographic characteristics, detail information about active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Current tobacco smoking was indicated by 19% of women and 28% of men (p = 0.06). Only 35% of the study subjects declared willingness to give up the habit. Significantly less men than women felt that they should quit smoking (36% vs. 11.4%, p < 0.05). Only small part of the study population expected the help in quitting smoking from specialists, physicians or school. It is crucial to increase awareness among the school administrators about negative effects of smoking and to motivate them to give up the habit. About 7% of study subjects (5% of women and 11% of men, p < 0.05) declared that smoking is allowed in school building and 13% of them indicated that there are no regulations on it or did not know such regulations.

[Smoking-related behavior in the families of persons at the productive age who participated in the "Quit and win" competition]. / Zachowania dotyczace palenia tytoniu w srodowisku rodzinnym uczestników konkursu "Rzuc palenie i wygraj" w wieku produkcyjnym.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco combustion at high temperature in the form of a cigarette, pipe or cigar is a chemical process. All chemical compounds go into the smoker's body, as well as into the body of everyone who remains in the polluted environment. The aim of the research was to learn about smoking-related behavior at home among persons at the productive age who participated in the'Quit and Win' competition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material is an element of a long-term study carried out on 1700 participants of the "Quit and Win" competition initiated in 1996. The subject of the analysis was the material obtained through a postal survey in August 2006. The completed questionnaire was returned by 648 people, which makes 38.1% of all the competition participants. Among the respondents, 521 people (80.4%) were at the productive age. RESULTS: Of the 521 respondents, 389 persons (74.7%) claimed not to have been smoking at all for at least seven recent months and 132 people (25.3%) stated that they had failed to quit smoking. Of the 132 ever smokers 20 persons (15.1%) reported that they had smoked outside home and 112 people (84.9%) smoked in their homes. CONCLUSIONS: A vast majority of ever smokers at the productive who participated in the 'Quit and Win' competition smoked at home, exposing the other household members to the danger of passive smoking.

[Changes in behavior related to tobacco smoking ten years after joining the "Quit and win" competition in the groups under additional intervention program]. / Zmiany zachowan dotyczacych palenia tytoniu po uplywie 10 lat od przystapienia do konkursu "Rzuc palenie i wygraj" w grupach objetych dodatkowa interwencja.

BACKGROUND: International anti-nicotine campaigns have been found to be efficient and economically effective methods of reducing tobacco addiction on a social scale. Nevertheless innovative methods are being looked for in order to increase the efficiency of anti-nicotine interventions. The aim of the research was to evaluate a long-term efficiency of two programs of additional anti-nicotine intervention introduced after the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign conducted in Poland (1996) in two randomly chosen groups of people from among the participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition held in 1996. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The two programs of additional intervention differed in their substance and economic terms. For 10 years (June 1996-August 2006), the efficiency of the programs had been systematically evaluated. The study was carried out in two experimental groups, one comprised 222 and the other 242 participants of the 1996 competition, and the control group consisting of 224 participants of the same competition. RESULTS: In the first experimental group, 53 (23.9%) persons responding to s the questions concerning tobacco smoking between January and July, 2006 reported that they had not smoked a single cigarette, and in the second experimental group, 72 (29.8%) persons reported complete abstinence from smoking in that period In the control group, 53 respondents (23.7%) stated that they had not smoked at all in the aforesaid period of time. CONCLUSIONS: One of the used programs of the additional anti-nicotine intervention, which proved to be less expensive contributed to achieving a far better long-term results of the campaign.

[Prevalence of tobacco smoking among participants of the Cardiovascular Prophylactic Program]. / Czestosc palenia tytoniu wsród uczestników Programu Profilaktyki Wczesnego Wykrywania Chorób Ukladu Krazenia.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking contributes to nearly 40 percent of premature deaths all over the world. In Poland, approximately 10 million people are addicted to smoking. Smoking prevalence depends on the socioeconomic status. The frequency of smoking is higher among people with low levels of education. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted among the participants of Cardiovascular Prophylactic Program. Patients with diagnosed cardiovascular system disorders or/and diabetes were excluded from the Programme. Patient's Prophylactic Card with collected data concerning risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure measurements, body mass and height, levels of glucose and total cholesterol, including HDL and LDL fractions, was the study instrument. In the statistical analysis, the Chi2 test was used. The relationship between variables was assessed at p < 0.05. The strength of the correlations was estimated with C-Pearson's coefficient. RESULTS: 202 people, aged 35, 40, 45, 50 and 55, including 83 males (41.1%) and 119 females (58.9%), were surveyed. The study revealed that 33.7% of our respondents (32.5% of females and 35% of males) smoked cigarettes. Cigarette smoking was more intensive among people with a low level of education and blue-collar workers (p < 0.05). Hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia were more common among smokers. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the conducted study confirm a strong need to promote educational programs in local comunities to increase public awareness of health effects of tobacco smoking, taking into account socioeconomic disparities in tobacco use.

Popularizing smoking among academic youth during the first years of studies.

For several years there have been systematic organization and educational activities carried out in many countries, also in Poland, aimed at large groups of people in order to limit the frequency of smoking. Living in environment free from tobacco smoke is a condition of maintaining good health of an individual and human population. The results of research show that it is very difficult to free oneself from smoking. Therefore, preventive actions among high school and academic youth must be particularly intensified. Health behaviour of post graduates of medical departments who will take up work in health centers in the future will be particularly under scrutiny, and there will be many followers among patients, too. The aim of this work was to establish participation of the smoking people among the first year students, during the first two months of 2008. In March 2008 all of the students of the first year of stationary and non-stationary divisions of the Department of Health Science at the Medical University of Lodz took part in the research, using an auditory survey. In total, there were 512 people on students lists. 479 of them took part in the research (93.5%). Among the 479 respondents, 34.2% (164) of the tested admitted to smoking and 65.8% (315 people) answered that in January and February 2008 they did not smoke a single cigarette. Among 308 stationary female and male students, those who smoked (88 people) made up for 28.6%, whereas among the 171 of the non-stationary tested students, those who smoked made up for 44.4% (76 people). In the group of smokers 53.7% (88 people) were the stationary students and 46.3% (76 people) were the non-stationary ones. Participation of smoking students in January and February 2008 among all of the students at the Department of Health Science was very high--tobacco smoke was inhaled by every third student.

[Opinions of the participants of 'Quit and Win' competition concerning prizes motivating to refrain from smoking]. / Opinie uczestników konkursów "Rzuc palenie i wygraj" na temat nagród motywujacych do utrzymania abstynencji tytoniowej.

Big antinicotine campaigns both in Poland and worldwide, are finished with a competition with prizes of different value. Psychologists say that a prize significantly motivates a person to certain kinds of behaviour. During educational activities carried out in the time of campaign, it is recommended to use techniques of psychological interaction that would release motives most beneficial to health. The aim of the work was to recognize frequency of being influenced mostly by the possibility of winning a prize before making a decision about quitting smoking and joining the competition, and learning the opinions of prize laureates concerning efficiency of 'Quit and Win' competitions. Empirical material comes from two sources. The first one is the selected fragments of a survey study carried out at Social and Preventive Medicine Department among 1700 participants of 'Quit and Win' competition that finished the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign in Poland. The correctly filled survey was sent by 1285 people, that is 75.6%. The second source is a fragment of a survey study carried out in 2003 among 54 laureates of 'Quit and Win' competition in Poland. The completed survey was sent by majority of the laureates, that is 34 people (f = 0.63). Possibility of winning a prize as the most important reason for taking up the attempt to stop smoking and joining the competition was pointed to by 56 respondents (4.4%), whereas the remaining people chose other reasons as the most important ones. In the group of 34 respondents who were the laureates of competitions, majority, that is 22 people (f = 0.65) claimed the competition with prizes as a very effective method of reducing smoking. Half of the surveyed (17 people) claimed the possibility of winning a few prizes of high value would be more motivating than winning one of many prizes of smaller value. As the least attractive, prize gifts were pointed to. A prize in the form of a trip or holiday was considered very popular, as much as money prize. A chance to win a prize was considered the most important motive in undertaking the attempt to refrain from smoking by a small number of participants of 'Quit and Win' competition. In the opinion of majority of the respondents who were laureates of competitions as chosen at random, competitions with prizes organized at the end of campaigns are an effective method of antinicotine prevention.

[Knowledge about influence of smoking tobacco on health condition and developing fetus of the patients of women health center in urban and rural areas]. / Wiedza na temat wplywu palenia tytoniu na stan zdrowia i rozwijajacy sie plód pacjentek poradni dla kobiet w srodowisku wielkomiejskim i w malym miescie.

Chemical compounds that are present in tobacco smoke negatively affect the health of everyone, but most of all it damages the organism of the developing and young bodies. Both passive and active smoking is harmful. The level of knowledge in the society concerning smoking increases systematically. However, many people choose to ignore warnings and prohibitions concerning smoking. From the findings it results that 60% of the pregnant women is threatened with inhaling tobacco smoke at work place or at home, and almost every third pregnant woman smokes. The aim of the research was to recognize the knowledge about the influence of smoking tobacco on the developing fetus of the patients of health centers in Lodz and in Opoczno. Between 1st and 15th April 2007, there were studies carried out using an auditory survey among 240 female patients who came for advice at the health center. One health center in Lodz was chosen at random and one in Opoczno. Subsequently, people queuing to the doctor's were asked to fill the survey, until 120 patients completed it. Collected material was then analysed statistically. The questionnaire consisted in total of 28 questions, including 11 concerning patients' knowledge about the influence of smoking tobacco on health. Almost 21% of the questioned was of a mistaken opinion that not everyone can quit smoking. Over 16% of them did not know that smoking may lead to vascular diseases and 2% of women did not see the connection between smoking and respiratory system diseases, 11% of the surveyed did not know that smoking is harmful and over 10% did not know that passive smoking has negative effect on the developing fetus. Defects in knowledge concerning influence of smoking, particularly passive smoking on the frequency of illnesses occurrence and the development of fetus, among some of the respondents, requires the increase of didactic activities of health care workers.

[Knowledge and behaviour concerning smoking tobacco among police officers]. / Wiedza i zachowania dotyczace palenia tytoniu funkcjonariuszy policji.

Job of a policeman belongs to the group of jobs with highest factor of psychological load. Working under high stress results in police officers reaching out for a cigarette, regardless of their knowledge about how harmful it is, believing--quite wrongly--that this will lower the stress level. The aim of the research was to determine the behaviour of policemen concerning smoking tobacco and evaluating their knowledge about its influence on health. In Poland in March and April 2008, there was research carried out using an auditory survey among 315 police officers of City Police Station in a city of almost 80 thousand people. The survey was completed by 102 people, which makes up for 32.4% of the total number of employed. Among the respondents there were 86 men (84.3%) and 16 women (15.7%). Age average of the surveyed was 37. The highest number, 76 people (74.5%) were graduates of high schools. Majority, 50 people (56.9%) had been in police service for over 15 years. Answering the questions included in the survey, concerning smoking cigarettes during two months prior to the questionnaire, 40 people (39.2%) admitted to smoking. This number included 28 people (27.4% of the total number of the studied cases) who claimed they had smoked every day, seven people (6.9%) responded they smoked almost every day and 5 people (4.9%) smoked from time to time. In the group of 30 smoked men, majority, that is 16 people answered they had smoked everywhere they wished to, disregarding signs prohibiting smoking. Evaluating the influence of smoking on health, 88 people (86.3%) claimed it was very harmful. Vast majority of the studied cases, that is 78 people (76.5%) thought their knowledge about negative effects of smoking was high enough, but almost half of the studied cases, that is 48 people (47.1%) claimed they had never heard about actions or antinicotine campaigns in Poland. Popularizing smoking among police officers who agreed to take part grounds to claim that police officers who did not agree to take part in completing the survey also smoked cigarettes. Majority of police officers who smoked, inhaled tobacco smoke disregarding their knowledge about the damaging effect of smoking.

[City dwellers' behaviour concerning smoking ten years after joining 'Quit and Win' competition]. / Zachowania mieszkanców miast dotyczace palenia tytoniu po uplywie 10 lat od przystapienia do konkursu "Rzuc palenie i wygraj".

Harmful influence of chemical compounds on human organism included in tobacco has been thoroughly tested and described in literature. The results of tests show quite clearly that it is worth undertaking actions that aim at limiting and perhaps even eliminating the habit of smoking in society. Antinicotine actions led in big populations are considered an effective and cheap method of fighting the habit of smoking. The aim of the work is to present the differences in behaviour as far as smoking is concerned, among the inhabitants of cities and towns, depending on the place's size, ten years after joining 'Quit and Win' competition. In August 2006 there were additional tests o 1700 participants of 'Quit and Win' competition that ended in 1996 and finalized the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign in Poland. A survey sent by post was used. Answers were sent back by 648 respondents, 550 of whom (which is 84.9%) lived in cities. People declaring total tobacco abstinence underwent biochemical tests. Ten years after the attempt to sustain tobacco abstinence, since May 1996, 424 people living in cities came to the conclusion that they achieved their goal and do not smoke at all, whereas 126 people (22.9%) could not reach the total abstinence throughout such a long period of time. The non-smokers were 77.1% of all the respondents and at least 34.0% of all the 'Quit and Win' competition participants who lived in cities. 178 people living in cities claiming they did not smoke at all made up for 73.0% of the respondents and at least 26.5% of all the competition participants living in the cities. In the cities with the number of inhabitants numbering from fifty to two hundred thousand, 123 who were already non-smokers made up for 80.4% of the respondents an at least 36.4% of all the participants of the competition living in the cities with such a number of people. In the cities where there were less than fifty thousand people, 123 non-smoker also made up for 80.4% of the respondents and at least 51.9% of all the competition participants from the cities with less than fifty thousand inhabitants. The results prove great efficiency of the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign in Poland that ended the 'Quit and Win' competition. The analysis of the collected material shown that after ten years, participation of the nonsmokers from the 'Quit and Win' competition statistically depended very much on the size of the city. The difference between the size of the ratio of non-smoking participants living in big cities (Lódz) and the ratio of non-smoking participants living in the cities of fifty to two hundred thousand inhabitants was 9.9 percentage point, whereas between the ratio of non-smokers living in small cities of less than fifty thousand inhabitants was as much as 25.4 percentage point--to the benefit of the small city dwellers.

[Tobacco smoking in a sample of middle-size city inhabitants aged 35-55]. / Palenie tytoniu w wieku 35-55 lat w wybranej próbie mieszkanców miasta sredniej wielkosci.

Tobacco smoking constitutes a common risk factor for the majority of civilization diseases, such as cardiovascular system diseases, malignant neoplasms and digestion and respiratory system disorders as well. Tobacco-related disorders relate to exacerbation of chronic diseases, for example diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Poland is one of those countries, where the prevalence of smoking is especially widespread. In Poland 42% of men and 25% of women smoke cigarettes and the amount of addicted people amounts to approximately 10 million. The latest data from the year 2003 show that the amount of cigarettes smoked by a particular citizen in Poland has risen fourfold since the beginning of 21st century. This paper presents an analysis of prevalence of tobacco smoking among inhabitants of a middle-size city in the Lodz province aged 35-55 years. The study sample comprised 124 people, including 75 females and 49 males. The tool of the research was a questionnaire survey containing questions concerning cigarette smoking. The study found out that 39.5% of respondents (41.3% of females and 36.7% of males) smoked cigarettes. The percentage of former smokers amounted to 15.3% and the percentage of non-smokers was higher than regular smokers and amounted to 44.8%. The study results showed that the majority of smokers were in the age interval of 45 to 49. Cigarette smoking influenced on smokers' health. The blood pressure and lipid balance was higher among smokers than among people who did not smoke cigarettes. The results of the conducted study confirm that there is a strong need of implementation of programmes towards limiting tobacco smoking, which may contribute to lowering the risk of tobacco-related diseases.

[Frequency and location of inhaling tobacco smoke by the still smoking participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition who live in cities]. / Czestosc i miejsca inhalowania dymu tytoniowego przez nadal palacych uczestników konkursu "Rzuc palenie i wygraj" zamieszkujacych w miastach.

Mount of toxic chemical substances supplied to the human organism is directly proportional to the number of smoked cigarettes. Passive smoking is harmful not only for the non-smokers but also for the smokers themselves. The aim of the work is to establish the number of smoked cigarettes and location where tobacco smoke is inhaled at home, together with checking the differences in behaviour concerning smoking tobacco among the still smoking participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition who live in cities. Leading long-term researches, in August 2006, another questionnaire was sent by post to 1700 participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition organized in 1996 in Poland at the end of the 2nd International Antinicotine Campaign. Answers were sent back in by 648 people 550 of whom (which is 84.9%) lived in cities. Ten years after joining the 'Quit and Win' competition, from among 550 respondents living in cities, 126 (22.9%) said they still smoke. 52.4% (66 people) of those still inhaling tobacco smoke lived in big cities, which is basically Lodz, 23.8% (30 people) lived in cities with fifty to two hundred thousand people and also 23.8% (30 people) lived in cities below fifty thousand inhabitants. The ratio of smoking respondents living in big cities was 27.0% (66 people), in cities with fifty to two hundred thousand people - 19.6% (30 people) and among respondents living in cities below fifty thousand inhabitants, also 19.6% (30 people). People smoking a large number of cigarettes, that is from 11 to 40 cigarettes a day made up for the majority of the respondents living in big cities (44 people, f = 0.67), whereas the lowest number (11 people, f = 0.37) was among the respondents from cities between fifty to two hundred thousand inhabitants. People who could not quit smoking throughout the ten-year period (126 people) were asked in which part of the house they smoke most often after work. The analysis of the answers allowed to draw a conclusion that 72 people (57.2%) smoked mostly in the house, in the room (51 people = 40.5%) or in the bathroom, or the kitchen (21 people = 16.7%), whereas 54 respondents (42.8%) concluded that in order to smoke they usually go out to the hall or to the balcony. Those who smoked at home but outside the flat, were primarily from the cities of below fifty thousand inhabitants (17 people, f = 0.57), whereas the smallest part was made up of respondents living in big cities (24 people, f = 0.36). The obtained results proved that frequency and location of the inhaled tobacco smoke by the still smoking participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition living in cities differed significantly and depended on the size of the city.

Health evaluation of the 2nd International "Quit and Win" Antinicotine Campaign participants ten years later.

Smoking is one of the most often noticed types of negative behaviour among the Poles. In the work, the results of the health evaluation are presented of the participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition ten years after making a decision to refrain from smoking, also the dependency between this evaluation and behaviour connected with smoking among the people living in big cities and small towns and villages was analysed. Among the 648 respondents, majority, which is 302 people (46.6%) evaluated their health as good, 236 (36.4%) as average, and 76 of the questioned (11.7%) as very good, 29 people (4.5%) as bad, and 5 of the questioned (0.8%) as very bad. The respondents most often evaluated negatively their health in the group of the still smoking living in the big cities, and the least often in the group of the non-smokers living in small towns and villages.

[Influence of tobacco products' advertisements on behaviour of the 'Quit and Win' competition]. / Wplyw reklam produktów tytoniowych na zachowania uczestników konkursu "Rzuc palenie i wygraj".

Smoking cigarettes, pipes or cigars is in fact inhaling harmful tobacco smoke that is created as a result of burning. Harmful substances that are part of this smoke get inside all the organs, upsetting their activities and the proper running of the life processes. In many countries, spreading the habit of smoking has caused the unwanted changes in the health state of the people. This fact does not prevent the tobacco concerns from tricky advertisement of their products. In the work there have been presented the opinions of the participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition concerning the influence of promotion and advertising of tobacco products on their smoking behaviour. The subject of the analysis are the answers received through the postal survey in June 2001 from the 900 participants of the 'Quit and Win' competition (52.9% of all the participants) organized in the region of Lodz and Kalisz at the end of the 2nd International Antinicotine "Quit and Win" Campaign.. The result have shown that in the group of 900 respondents, 160 people (17.8%) claimed that promoting tobacco has become an obstacle in sustaining tobacco abstinence in their case, and 192 people (21.3%) did not have any opinion on that subject. Though majority of the respondents (58.1%) in the group of 900 people claims that promoting cigarettes in their case had no influence on their decisions concerning smoking, many of them are people who are of contrary opinion or are unable to make any evaluation. In the case of tobacco producers, making this effort to convince us about cigarettes being not harmful proved ineffective. Giving into the influence of the insidious cigarette advertising by the adults make lead the conclusion that frequency with which adolescent and very young people take up smoking may be a result of such promotion. Eliminating tobacco advertisements as a relevant factor leading to smoking, will enable to increase the ratio of non-smokers in the society.

[Frequency of smoking tobacco among the students of the last year of the Faculty of Health Sciences]. / Czestosc palenia tytoniu wsród studentów ostatnich lat Wydzialu Nauk o Zdrowiu.

Smoking tobacco is one of the most frequent and most dangerous addictions among the Poles, at the same time--despite the many dramatic results--it is the most belittled of threats. It is difficult to understand especially those smokers who, due to their future or present job should be free from tobacco smoke. The aim of the work was to establish the participation of the smoke inhalers among the students of the last years of studies, focusing on the particular socio-demographic features. 162 students were tested, that means all who are the last year students at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Medical University of Lodz. Using the auditoria survey, the studies were carried out between the 1st to 15th March 2007. The filled in surveys were handed back in by 92.6% of students (150 female and male students). Among the 150 of the tested, 58 people confessed to smoking (38.6%). The ratio of the smoking female students was 34.0% and smoking male students 46.4%. In the past, there were close to 65% of smokers among the tested. Over 54% of the asked people smoked their first cigarette in the high school. Majority of smokers (30.5%) smoked from 5 to 10 cigarettes a day. Majority of smokers (70.4%) confirmed they smoked everywhere where they wished. From among 58 smokers, 4 people could be pharmacologically addicted to nicotine. Almost all of them would like to quit smoking. The ratio of smoking students of the last years of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Medical University of Lodz was very high in 2007. There was practically every second male student who smoked and close to every third female one. Great majority of the smokers put the health of the people around them who did not smoke at risk because they smoked everywhere they pleased. There is a need to undertake some efficient preventive actions directed at the problem of smoking among the students, especially of the departments which produce the personnel of the health centres.