Factors Associated with Intentions of Korean Youth Smokers to Smoke Consistently after Tobacco Price Increase in the Future

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The intention among Korean youth smokers to smoke consistently even after tobacco prices may rise in the future may be associated with tobacco dependence. METHODS: Data for 8,988 Korean youth smokers from the 2011 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey were used in this study. A chi-square test was used to analyze smoking behavior changes after increase in tobacco price by socioeconomic characteristics, tobacco-related characteristics, and quality of life-related characteristics. Logistic regression was used to assess the factors related to existing smokers' intention to smoke consistently should tobacco price increase in the future. RESULTS: Of all smoking adolescents, 26.6% had no intention to quit smoking even if the tobacco price were to rise in the future. Logistic regression analysis showed the following significant factors related to intention to continue smoking after an increase in price: age (odds ratio [OR], 0.93), amount of smoking (2-9 vs. or =10 vs. < or =1 cigarettes per day OR, 4.84), daily smoker (OR, 2.73), experience with electronic cigarette (OR, 1.17), attempt to quit smoking (no vs. yes OR, 2.32), age at trying to smoke (before or at elementary vs. high school OR, 1.31), exposure to anti-smoking campaign (no vs. yes OR, 1.20), anti-smoking education (no vs. yes OR, 1.21), happiness (low vs. high OR, 1.31), depression (OR, 1.13), and suicidal ideations (OR, 1.30). CONCLUSIONS: Those with the intention to continue to smoke even after an increase in tobacco price have high tobacco dependence. Therefore, policy makers need to enforce not only price policies but also those unrelated to price, such as smoking cessation programs to help youth smokers quit smoking.