Pattern of smoking and nicotine dependence in patients with psychiatric disorders

Smoking prevalence is high among psychiatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of smoking, related factors and nicotine dependence in patients suffering from psychiatric disorders. This analytical descriptive study was performed on patients who had been hospitalized for at least 2 days in Razi Hospital during 2010. Data were collected via an interview and the obtained information was recorded in a questionnaire. Fagerstrom test was also used. After determining the prevalence of smoking in these patients, the related factors and nicotine dependence were also evaluated using multiple logistic regression test and SPSS software. A total of 78.4% of men and 36.2% of women in this study were smokers and 64.4% had high nicotine dependence. Final logistic regression models showed that smoking was related with advanced age, male sexuality, hookah consumption, and depression. High nicotine dependence was correlated with hookah consumption and history of suicide attempt. Prevalence of smoking is higher among psychiatric patients compared to the public. Adequate intervention and strategies are necessary in these patients to promote smoking cessation

Factors associated with secondhand smoke exposure in infants

Determining the factors associated with secondhand smoke [SHS] exposure in children provides valuable information for smoking control strategies. This study aimed to assess factors related to SHS exposure in infants based on urinary cotinine measures. A cross-sectional analysis of the data that were collected as part of the randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were 130 smoking households with children under the age of 1 year attending a health care center in southern Tehran. Eligible parents consented to participate in this study and completed a questionnaire including demographic data, questions regarding smoking at home, smoking status and Fagerstrom test through face-to-face interview. The Infants' urinary cotinine level was measured using gas chromatography, adjusted with urinary creatinine level and reported as cotinine [ng]/ creatinine [mg]. Factors related to infants' SHS exposure were assessed using the multivariate logistic regression model based on standard cut-point [30 ng of urinary cotinine/mg creatinine]. The final multivariate logistic regression model showed that social status [p=0.002], home smoking restriction [p=0.05] and the infant's age [p=0.01] were associated with the infants' SHS exposure determined based on urinary cotinine levels. These results support the influence of social status, home smoking restriction and infant's age on the exposure of infants to SHS

Evaluation of age and smoking habit by verbal autopsy

Cigarette smoking is the first preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and can result in various diseases, disability and death. International studies have reported that about half of the smoking-related deaths occur in the middle ages. We decided to assess the age of death among smokers and non-smokers in this study. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Tehran Behesht-e-Zahra Cemetery between September 2005 and March 2006. To estimate the sample size, a pilot study was performed on 112 deaths in March 2005 and based on the results; the sample size was estimated to be 2500. Five days of each month were selected randomly. On these days a physician [co-author] visited the Cemetery office and collected the data with the help of office operator. Information was obtained from first-degree relatives of the deceased after obtaining consent. The under-study variables were age at the time of death and cigarette use. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 11 and using ANOVA test. A total of 7858 cases were studied out of which 57.3% were males. There were 63.1% [4960] non-smokers, 25.1% [1971] smokers and 11.8% [927] ex-smokers. The mean age of death among total under-study population was 56.8 yrs [55.1 yrs in males and 57.6 yrs in females]. The mean age of death was 57.9 yrs among non-smokers, 50.1 yrs among smokers and 56.8 yrs among ex-smokers [p=0.00]. Results showed that age of death was lower among smokers but we could not determine a direct correlation between cigarette smoking and death in these patients

Daily expenditure on cigarette smoking in Tehran

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths worldwide. Since the price and expense of tobacco products are important factors relating to smoking and tobacco control, it is necessary to calculate the expense of daily smoking in order to enforce tobacco control programs. This study was done to assess the expense of daily smoking among smokers in Tehran. A cross-sectional study was done among a random population sample of 3026 smokers in different areas of Tehran. Data collection was done via WHO and IUATLD [International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease] questionnaires by questioning health-care workers. Finally data were analyzed by Chi-Square, Fischer's exact and logistic regression tests. Among 3026 participants, 2413 [80.9%] persons were male. The mean age of the population was 40 +/- 12.7 years. 49.2% of the population [1439 persons] had below diploma degrees and the maximum frequency distribution of occupation belonged to employees [36.7%]. The mean age of initiation of smoking was 21 +/- 8.19 yrs. and the mean number of cigarettes smoked daily was 16.81 +/- 10.61 cigarettes. 41.8% of population [1192 persons] had daily smoking expense of 2,510 to 4,500 Rials[*]. The mean was 4,680 +/- 388.78 Rials. In evaluation of daily smoking expense according to gender, over 6,500 Rials daily expenditure was more frequent among men [20.1%] in comparison with women [13.5%] [P=0.000]. Persons with daily income of less than 50,000 Rials, spent 9.3% of it for smoking. Because of the low price of cigarette in Iran, there is huge expenditure on smoking. Therefore, it is recommended to pay special attention to economical strategies in tobacco control programs and to coordinate with WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control [FCTC]

effect of training and behavioral therapy recommendations on smoking cessation [a report of the first "Smoking Cessation Clinic" in Iran]

Cigarette smoking is considered as the commonest preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. The present study shows that over a 2- year period, a total of 743smokers have been registered in monthly therapeutic and training courses of Smoking Cessation Clinic. They have received audio-visual training and behavioral therapy. For Nicotine Replacement Therapy [NRT], nicotine dependence of the patients was assessed by Fagrostrom Tolerance Test in the beginning of each course. The test scores of 170 people [31.2%] were less than 7 [low nicotine dependence], and 376 individuals [68.8%] had scores of 7 or more [high nicotine dependence]. At the end of the course, 90% from the first group and 87.5% from the second group had successfully quitted smoking. In the above-mentioned groups, 23.5% from the first group and 48.9% from the second one received not only behavioral therapy but also NRT. However, it is noteworthy that all the smokers with respect to the training provided during the course were prescribed NRT while its usage was up to the patient. This means that half of the second group [51.1%] had succeeded to quit smoking only by means of education and behavioral therapy without any NRT. The role of this kind of training in implementing smoking cessation program is essential