Quit history, intentions to quit, and reasons for considering quitting among tobacco users in India: Findings from the Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Wave 1 Survey.

BACKGROUND: Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2009–2010 revealed that more than one‑third (35%) of adults in India use tobacco in some form: 21% use smokeless tobacco, 9% smoke, and 5% are mixed users (they smoke and use smokeless tobacco), and the quit rate is very low. In an effort to decrease prevalence of tobacco use, it is thus important to understand the factors that are related to intention to quit among Indian tobacco users. Research has shown consistently that intention to quit is a strong predictor of future quitting. The present study reports the factors encouraging quitting tobacco products in India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cross‑sectional data from Wave 1 of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Survey conducted in four cities and surrounding rural areas (i.e. Mumbai [Maharashtra], Patna [Bihar], Indore [Madhya Pradesh], and Kolkata [West Bengal]) between August 2010 and December 2011 were analyzed. A total of 8051 tobacco users (15+ years) were randomly sampled from 8586 households: 1255 smokers, 5991 smokeless users, and 805 mixed (smoke and smokeless) users. Validated, standardized questions were asked about current tobacco use, intention to quit, and factors encouraging quitting. RESULTS: Overall, 19.6% of tobacco users intended to quit. Smokers had less intention to quit as compared to smokeless tobacco users whereas mixed users had more intention to quit (odds ratio [OR] =1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.12–1.97) compared to smokeless tobacco users. Highly educated people were more likely to report intention to quit (OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.09–3.02) compared to less educated. Advice by doctors to quit tobacco had a strong impact on intention to quit (OR = 1.68, CI = 1.29–2.15). Tobacco users who were exposed to antitobacco messages at work places (OR = 1.74, CI = 1.23–2.46), at restaurants (OR = 1.65, CI = 1.12–2.43), bars (OR = 1.81, CI = 1.07–3.06), on public transportation (OR = 2.14, CI = 1.49–3.08) and on tobacco packages (OR = 1.77, CI = 1.29–2.14) also expressed greater intention to quit tobacco use. CONCLUSION: Around one‑fifth of tobacco users in India intended to quit tobacco use. Higher education, doctor’s advice, and antitobacco messages were positively associated with users’ intention to quit tobacco.

Intervençöes para o abandono do tabagismo / Quiting tabagism

O tabagismo é considerado a principal causa evitável de doença e de morte em vários países do mundo. Nos Estados Unidos, estatísticas recentes demonstram que cerca de 450.000 pessoas por ano morrem de doenças relacionadas, direta ou indiretamente, ao tabagismo, e este número corresponde a 20 por cento de todos os óbitos. No Brasil estima-se que 150.000 óbitos ocorram devido ao tabagismo. Em todo o mundo - que conta com um bilhäo de fumantes -, cerca de três milhöes de pessoas morrem anualmente por fumarem. O início da grande batalha contra o tabagismo teve seu marco em 1964 quando a Sociedade de Cirurgiöes Gerais dos Estados Unidos alertava para a importante relaçäo entre tabagismo e câncer de pulmäo. A partir daí várias outras neoplasias como as da cavidade oral, trato respiratório, neoplasias das vias urinárias, neoplasias de pâncreas, assim como linfomas e neoplasias ginecológicas, foram também relacionadas ao hábito de fumar. As doenças cardiovasculares, principal causa de morbidade e mortalidade em países como os Estados Unidos, têm muito bem estabelecida sua relaçäo com o hábito de fumar. No transcorrer deste capítulo estaremos abordando, entäo, algumas condutas importantes na supressäo deste vício, visando reduzir a incidência do câncer de pulmäo, das doenças pulmonares obstrutivas, doenças cardiovasculares e neoplasias passíveis de relaçäo com o tabagismo.