A comparative study on the effect of designated indoor smoking areas on the behavior and attitude of adults attending coffee shops in Bahrain toward smoking

ABSTRACT

Background: According to the world health organization, smoking causes five–six death cases annually. “Smoking areas” according to research done in La Salle University helps in reduction in exposure to second hand cigarettes. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the attitude of all adults attending coffee shops toward designates smoking areas and compare the effect of coffee shops with designated smoking areas in Bahrain on the change of behavior on smokers and non-smokers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, two group comparative, and questionnaire-based study was carried out in coffee shops with and without designated smoking areas in Bahrain. A questionnaire was used to collect data which were entered and analyzed using SPSS program version 18. Results: It was shown that smoking inside a smoking areas will reduce the number of cigarettes smoked. As smokers inside smoking area, smoked 20 or more cigarettes having count 9 (10.3%) and outside the smoking area were 17 (17.7%), respectively. Furthermore, smokers who attend smoking area find it more difficult to refrain from smoking 48 (44.4%) in comparison to those who do not attend smoking area 19 (24.4%). Conclusion: Smoking inside designates smoking area may halt the amount of cigarettes smoked by smokers. Smokers within coffee shops with smoking area find it more difficult to refrain from smoking compared to smokers in coffee shops with no smoking area.