Tobacco usage in the home: a cross-sectional analysis of heated tobacco product (HTP) use and combustible tobacco smoking in Japan, 2023.

BACKGROUND: Heated tobacco product (HTP) use continues in Japan as the second most common product after cigarettes. While the health effects of HTPs and their secondhand emissions are not well-studied, the tobacco industry has actively marketed HTPs as a smokeless, health-conscious alternative to cigarettes to encourage home consumption. We investigated the prevalence of current tobacco product use and usage at home. METHODS: The present study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2023 wave of a nationwide, Internet-based, self-reported survey. 29,354 individuals aged 16-74 were included in the analysis. We assessed the prevalence of current (past-30-day) use for HTPs, cigarettes, non-cigarette combustible tobacco, and dual (combustible plus HTP) use. The frequency of use (daily or more than monthly) in the home was calculated for both HTPs and combustible tobacco. Multivariable Poisson regression models were employed to identify factors associated with home usage. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. All analyses were weighted to address the Internet-based sample's selectivity and yield nationally representative estimates. RESULTS: In 2023, the prevalence of current use was 12.4% (HTPs), 18.9% (cigarettes), 3.6% (non-cigarette combustible tobacco), and 7.4% (dual use). Among current users of any tobacco (N = 5,818), 49.8% reported daily tobacco usage within their homes, and 67.1% reported monthly or more frequent home usage. Compared to exclusive combustible tobacco smokers, exclusive HTP users exhibited higher prevalence of daily home usage (APR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.43-1.67), as did dual users (APR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.01-1.20). Daily home usage prevalence was notably higher for those without complete tobacco-free rules at home or workplaces, older individuals, and those with lower education levels. Those living with adult or child household member and current drinkers showed significantly lower daily home usage prevalence. CONCLUSION: Home usage was more common among HTP users than among combustible tobacco smokers. Ongoing efforts to assess and address the impact of indoor tobacco product use, including HTPs, on health are warranted. Regulatory and educational strategies should be considered to discourage tobacco consumption in both public and private spaces.

Unavoidable exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor places: a cross-sectional comparison to the Health Japan 21 (second term) objectives, 2022.

BACKGROUND: The second term Health Japan 21 aims at eliminating unwanted exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in society; however, the ambiguity of the term "unwanted exposure" complicates the evaluation of the program. In this study, we examined SHS exposure that occurred despite the efforts to avoid it (i.e. unavoidable SHS exposure) as a proxy for "unwanted SHS exposure". METHODS: Individuals aged 16-74 responded to a nationwide, Internet-based, self-reported survey. Frequency (daily/≥monthly) of SHS exposure in the past month was assessed for specific places (home/car/restaurant/cafe/bar/workplace/school/pachinko parlor) and any place. Unavoidable SHS was identified when respondents always tried to avoid but were exposed to SHS. The observed prevalence was compared to the target of Health Japan 21 ("Eliminate unwanted SHS exposure", =0%). Analyses were weighted to account for the selectivity of the Internet-based sample. RESULTS: Among overall (N = 25,672), those who always tried to avoid SHS (N = 14,971), and never smokers of combustible tobacco who always tried to avoid SHS (N = 10,416), the prevalence of daily SHS exposure was 12.4%, 5.7%, and 4.2%; ≥monthly SHS exposure was 34.0%, 21.4%, and 17.5%, respectively. Among never smokers, the adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) of daily unavoidable SHS exposure was significantly high in adolescents (age 16-19) (APR = 4.97, vs. age 60-74), less-educated individuals (APR = 2.37, vs. ≥some college education), and heated tobacco product (HTP) users (APR = 8.27, vs. nonusers). Among never smokers, daily unavoidable SHS exposure was highest in the home (3.4%), workplaces (2.3%), and pachinko parlors (1.3%); ≥monthly unavoidable SHS exposure was highest in workplaces (11.4%), restaurants/cafes/bars (10.0%), and the home (7.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Daily unavoidable SHS exposure was disproportionately high among adolescents, less-educated individuals, and HTP users. The prevalence of unavoidable SHS exposure did not reach the national target in any of the assessed indoor places; home and workplace were the dominant sources of unavoidable SHS exposure. The lack of comprehensive smoke-free laws provides inadequate protection against SHS that cannot be complemented by individual efforts. The authorities must ensure smoke-free environments for all.

Second-hand smoke exposure in adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean: a pooled analysis.

Background: Second-hand smoke exposure is prevalent amongst adolescents, despite of being a preventable risk factor associated with unfavourable outcomes. The distribution of this risk factor varies by underlying determinants and public health officers need contemporary evidence to update policies. Using the most recent data available from adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), we described the prevalence of second-hand smoking. Methods: Pooled analysis of Global School-based Student Health (GSHS) surveys conducted from 2010 to 2018 was conducted. Two indicators were analysed based on information from the 7 days prior to the survey: a) any exposure to second-hand smoking (0 vs ≥1 days of exposure); and b) daily exposure (<7 vs 7 days). Prevalence estimates were carried out accounting for the complex survey design, and reported overall, by country, by sex, and by subregion. Findings: GSHS surveys were administered in 18 countries, yielding a total of 95,805 subjects. Pooled age-standardised prevalence of second-hand smoking was 60.9% (95% CI: 59.9%-62.0%) with no substantial differences between boys and girls. The age-standardised prevalence of any second-hand smoking varied from 40.2% in Anguilla to 68.2% in Jamaica, and the highest prevalence was in the Southern Latin America subregion (65.9%). Pooled age-standardised prevalence of daily second-hand smoking was 15.1% (95% CI: 14.2%-16.1%), and was higher in girls than boys (16.5% vs 13.7%; p < 0.001). The age-standardised prevalence of daily second-hand smoking ranged between 4.8% in Peru to 28.7% in Jamaica, and the highest age-standardised prevalence was in Southern Latin America (19.7%). Interpretation: The prevalence of any second-hand smoking is high among adolescents in LAC, though estimates changed substantially by country. While policies and interventions to reduce/stop smoking are implemented, attention should also be paid to avoid second-hand smoke exposure. Funding: Wellcome Trust International Training Fellowship (214185/Z/18/Z).

Attitude and behaviors towards tobacco control among civil servants in smoke-free governments of Ningbo City / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the attitude and behaviors towards tobacco control among civil servants in smoke-free governments of Ningbo City, so as to provide insights into the construction of smoke-free governments.@*Methods@#Ten governments were randomly sampled from city-level and county/district-level smoke-free governments in Ningbo City using a stratified random sampling method, and 10 civil servants were sampled from each government using a convenient sampling method. Participants' demographics, attitude and behaviors towards tobacco control and second-hand smoke exposure were collected using a self-designed questionnaire and descriptively analyzed.@*Results@# A total of 1 100 civil servants were recruited, including 466 men (42.36%) and had a mean age of (39.02±9.38) years. There were 1 005 participants favoring “civil servants should refuse smoking firstly” (91.36%), 1 058 participants favoring “governments should build a smoke-free environment firstly” (96.18%), 1 075 participants favoring “smoking should be completely banned in any indoor public places” (97.73%), 913 participants thinking that smoking should be completely banned in any indoor public places (83.00%) and 813 participants thinking that tobacco control regulations are implemented satisfactorily in their workplaces (73.91%). The overall prevalence of current smoking was 11.91% among participants, and the prevalence of current smoking was 28.11% among male participants. Among all current smokers, 84 attempted to quit smoking (64.12%), and 89 had willingness or plans to quit smoking (67.94%). The proportion of second-hand smoke exposure in workplaces was 40.97% among non-smokers in the past one week.@*Conclusions@# The civil servants in Ningbo City has correct awareness of smoke-free governments, active attitudes towards tobacco control and low prevalence of smoking. However, smoke-free regulations remain to be improved and long-term tobacco control mechanisms remain to be created in governments in Ningbo City

Undercover investigation on the creation of smoke-free environments in public places in Hangzhou City / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the creation of smoke-free environments in public places in Hangzhou City, so as to provide insights into effective implementation of the tobacco control policy. @*Methods@#The party and government administrations at each level, medical institutions, educational places, restaurants and entertainment places, and open public places were enrolled. The creation of smoke-free environments was investigated in these places through undercover investigation with field observations and concealed photography by a third-party professional investigation company from November to December, 2022. The building of smoke-free environments (totally 60 scores) and no smoking indoors (totally 40 scores) were evaluated according to the Criteria for Scoring of Smoke-free Organizations in Hangzhou City. @*Results@#Totally 909 places were investigated, and the comprehensive score of smoke-free environment building was (82.83±14.13) points. There were 285 party and government administrations with a comprehensive score of (84.19±12.85) points, 65 medical institutions with a comprehensive score of (90.35±6.95) points, 65 educational places with a comprehensive score of (83.43±16.81) points, 403 dining and entertainment places with a comprehensive score of (80.68±14.75) points, and 91 open public places, with a comprehensive score of (82.34±14.77) points. There were 397 places with standardized tobacco control tips at entrances (43.67%), 308 places with tobacco control signs posted as required (33.88%), 707 places that set outdoor smoking areas correctly (77.78%), 68 places with smoking paraphernalia (7.48%), 28 places with tobacco sales (3.08%). There were 732 places without signs of indoor smoking (80.53%), 850 places without indoor smoking (93.51%) and 24 places without dissuading from smoking (2.64%).@*Conclusion @#The indoor no-smoking is overall satisfactory in public places in Hangzhou City; however, standardizing no-smoking tips at entrances, standardizing the posting of no-smoking signs and assignment of tobacco control materials remain to be improved.

Attitudes of staff towards smoke-free environments in psychiatric hospitals in Germany.

INTRODUCTION: Smoke-free environments have already been successfully introduced in hospitals world-wide. But despite convincing evidence of their success, many countries still struggle to make the necessary changes. Not only is the smoking prevalence higher amongst people with mental health problems and staff working in psychiatric units, but employees in psychiatry often resist the implementation of smoke-free policies. This study explores staff attitudes towards smoke-free environments in psychiatric hospitals in Germany and tries to identify barriers and opportunities for implementation. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey was carried out at eight psychiatric units of the state-owned healthcare company Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH in Berlin, Germany, in 2019. A total of 448 members of staff were surveyed on their views towards creating a smoke-free environment in their workplace. RESULTS: Psychiatric staff present contradictory attitudes towards implementing smoke-free regulations. On the one hand, a majority recognizes the need for smoke-free environments as they promote physical well-being of staff and patients. On the other hand, a majority opposes comprehensive restrictions like a complete smoking ban. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to resist restrictive measures and show a tendency to only support those measures which they deem unlikely to affect their own smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: The contradictory attitudes towards implementing smoke-free regulations present an entry point to elicit behavior change and a shift in attitudes, for example in staff training on smoke-free environments. Staff who smoke, in particular, should be motivated to reflect on the contradiction that is presented by their private smoking behavior and their role as healthcare professionals.

Undercover investigation on the smoke-free environment in medical and healthcare institutions in Zhejiang Province / 预防医学

Objective @#To investigate the establishment of smoke-free environments in medical and healthcare institutions in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the evidence for improving the implementation of the tobacco control policy in medical and healthcare institutions.@*Methods@#Health administrative sectors and public health institutions at provincial, city and county levels, secondary and tertiary medical institutions, and community health service/township health centers in Zhejiang Province were enrolled. The status of institutional establishment of smoke-free environments was investigated through concealed photography and consulting medical service guides by the assigned the third-party professional investigation company in 2021. The layout of smoke-free environments and indoor smoking were assessed according to the Criteria for Scoring Smoking-free Medical and Healthcare Institutions.@*Results@#Totally 547 medical and healthcare institutions were enrolled in this undercover investigation, including 102 health administrative sectors, 209 public health institutions, 146 secondary and tertiary medical institutions, and 90 community health service/township health centers. The gross mean scores of establishment of smoke-free environments were 83.41±12.19 among all medical and healthcare institutions, 82.02±10.73, 85.56±9.70 and 83.18±12.59 among province-, city- and county-level medical and healthcare institutions, respectively, and the gross mean scores of establishment of smoke-free environments were 82.60±12.27, 85.79±10.74, 80.89±13.85, 82.27±11.62 scores among health administrative sectors, public health institutions, secondary and tertiary medical institutions and community health service/township health centers, respectively. There were 315 institutions with no smoking signs at entrances (57.59%), 255 institutions posting no smoking signs ( 46.62% ), 245 institutions assigning two and more types of health education materials for tobacco control ( 44.79% ), 110 institutions with outdoor smoking areas ( 51.16% ), 66 secondary and tertiary medical institutions with smoking cessation clinics ( 45.20% ) and 354 institutions with carpet smoking bans in indoor places ( 64.72% ).@*Conclusions@#The overall establishment of smoke-free environments is satisfactory among medical and healthcare institutions in Zhejiang Province. Nevertheless, improving the coverage of no smoking signs and health education of tobacco control, promoting the standardized construction of smoking cessation clinics and establishing a long-action tobacco control mechanism are still needed.

Improvement in Compliance With Smoke-Free Environment Regulations at Hotels and Restaurants in Vietnam After an Administrative Intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Vietnam is among the countries with the highest smoking prevalence among male adults, as well as high prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure at indoor places. In many countries, including Vietnam, exposure to tobacco smoking is greatest in restaurants/bars and hotels. This study aims to analyze the compliance of hotels and restaurants to smoke-free environment regulations before and after an intervention. METHODS: Direct observations were done at the receptions, conference rooms, designated smoking areas, restaurants, and lobbies of 140 hotels and the dining rooms, kitchens, and toilets of 160 restaurants before and after an intervention. The intervention was a training course conducted by police officers followed by 3 monthly supervision visits by police officers. Compliance with smoke-free enviornment regulations was observed and assessed to generate a compliance score for each location and overall. Tobit regression was used to examine the relationship between compliance scores and the intervention and other variables such as hotel and restaurant characteristics. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the highest compliance rates were found for "no tobacco advertisement" and "no cigarette selling" regulations (95%-100%) in almost all sites in hotels and restaurants. The lowest compliance rates were found for "having nonsmoking signs." The rate of compliance with all regulations was only 5% for hotels and 0.06% of restaurants. Improvement after intervention was clearly observed, in the rate of compliance with all regulations by more hotels (15.7%) and overall compliance scores of hotels and restaurants. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention with participation of the police officers proved to be effective in improving compliance with smoke-free regulations. It is recommended to continue this intervention in the same areas as well as to expand the intervention to other areas.

Innovative call emerging from a qualitative study for workplace designated stop-smoking area.

INTRODUCTION: Designated smoking areas (DSAs) have become a common feature of public places in various developed and developing countries that have ratified the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). However, this situation is not in line with the WHO FCTC. In this context, this study was designed to explore the perception of stakeholders on the DSA prevailing in workplaces in Mauritius and to explore the feasibility of smoking cessation interventions in the workplace. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews was conducted among the various stakeholders in tobacco control in Mauritius. Data collected were transcribed verbatim for analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged from this study: 1) a need for comprehensive smoke-free law, 2) a need for smoking cessation services, and 3) a need for stakeholders' involvement (local government, employers, and health professionals) in the promotion of tobacco cessation programs. CONCLUSIONS: We make a call for a workplace Designated Stop Smoking Area (DSSA) in order to phase out existing DSAs. DSSAs will be a therapeutic means to divert smokers away from DSAs, in order to change their behaviour with respect to tobacco use. Group therapy, individual counselling, and tobacco treatment will be made accessible in these DSSAs, which with a touch of innovation can become a VIP lounge for stop-smoking services. This innovative call for DSSAs is meant to sensitize policy makers of developing countries on how to proceed for the elimination of DSAs.

Smoke-free environment policy in Vietnam: what did people see and how did they react when they visited various public places?

INTRODUCTION: Since Vietnam has signed WHO framework on tobacco control (FCTC) in 2003 and has issued tobacco control law in 2013, there has been little research concerning about what impacts smoke-free regulations have had on public compliance. The objective of this study was to assess public exposure to secondhand smoke and reaction toward smoke-free policy regulations in Vietnam and the associated factor. METHODS: Using the design of GATS (Global Adult Tobacco Survey), a nationally representative sample of 8,996 adults were approached for data collection. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factor. RESULTS: The study revealed that the prevalence of respondents exposed to secondhand smoke was much higher in bars/café/tea shops (90.07%) and restaurants (81.81%) than in any other public places, universities (36.70%), government buildings (31.12%), public transport (20.04%), healthcare facilities (17.85%) and schools (15.84%). 13.23% of respondents saw smokers violate smoke-free regulations. Among those who saw them violate smoke-free regulations, just one-third cautioned them to stop smoking. Strikingly, a higher rate of cautioning smokers to stop smoking was observed among the older, married, and better educated respondents. Respondents who were married, better educated and in lower economic status were more likely to remind smokers to stop smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The study has called for strengthening two of the six MPOWER (Monitor, Protect, Offer, Warn, Enforce and Raise) components of the tobacco free initiative introduced by WHO, Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies and Protecting people from tobacco smoke.

Smoke-free home initiative in Bantul, Indonesia: Development and preliminary evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco control policies in Indonesia are still limited. This study aims to describe the process of the implementation of the smoke-free home (SFH) program in rural areas in Indonesia and to conduct a preliminary evaluation of its implementation. METHODS: The development of SFH (or Rumah Bebas Asap Rokok) applies the theory of diffusion of innovation with the following stages: innovation, dissemination, adoption, implementation, and evaluation. The preliminary evaluation of the SFH program used an observational method combined with a cross-sectional survey. The population of this study was all houses in Karet hamlet, in Bantul district, Yogyakarta province with 378 houses as population, from which 196 houses were selected as sample using the proportional random sampling technique. Quantitative data analysis used multiple linear regression in Stata 15.1. RESULTS: SFH is a community-based tobacco control innovation program that began with a community declaration. Preliminary evaluation after one-year implementation showed that 55% and 45% of respondents were smokers and non-smokers, respectively. Among smokers, 95%, 78% and 56% reported not smoking near pregnant women, children, and non-smokers, respectively. Moreover, 52% of respondents reported having a front-door ashtray, and 46% reported guests not smoking; among non-smokers, the corresponding values were 56% and 60%. CONCLUSIONS: SFH implementation has an impact on the community's smoking pattern. Awareness of smokers to protect women and children from secondhand smoke is very high. While the results are promising, more political and resource support is needed from the local and national policymakers to support SFH initiatives.

Signs, Fines and Compliance Officers: A Systematic Review of Strategies for Enforcing Smoke-Free Policy.

Background. Smoke-free environment policies limit or eliminate the use of smoke-producing tobacco in designated areas thereby reducing second hand smoke. Enforcement is perceived as critical to the successful adoption of a smoke-free policy. However, there is limited guidance available regarding effective enforcement strategies. A systematic review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of enforcement strategies at increasing compliance with and enforcement of smoke-free policies; and to determine circumstances other than enforcement strategies that are associated with compliance with smoke-free policies. Design. Medline, Medline in Process, The Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycInfo and CINAHL databases were searched using MeSH and keywords for relevant studies published between January 1980 and August 2017. A narrative synthesis and methodological quality assessment of included studies was undertaken. Results. Policy promotion and awareness-raising activities, signage, enforcement officers, and penalties for violations were the enforcement strategies most frequently cited as being associated with successful policy enforcement. Additionally, awareness of the laws, non-smoking management and lower staff smoking rates, and membership of a network guiding the policy enforcement contributed to higher compliance with smoke-free policies. Conclusions. There is weak evidence of the effectiveness of strategies associated with compliance with smoke-free policies. Given the evidence base is weak, well-designed trials utilizing appropriate evaluation designs are needed. Overall enforcement strategies associated with total smoke-free bans resulted in higher levels of compliance than strategies for policies that had only partial smoke-free bans.

Prevalence of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke among Higher Secondary School Students in Ernakulam District, Kerala, Southern India.

INTRODUCTION: The association between secondhand smoke and health outcomes, such as frequent respiratory infections, ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, and stroke, has long been established. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of secondhand smoking exposure among higher secondary school students in Ernakulam district, Kerala, Southern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to all students from four randomly selected higher secondary schools in Ernakulam district. Descriptive statistics was done using frequencies and percentages. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done for factors associated with household exposure to tobacco smoke generating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 629 students participated in the study. The prevalence of ever smokers was 11.9% and of current smokers was 5.2%. Among the study participants, 23.2% were exposed to secondhand smoking from a family member and 18.8% from friends. Lower educational status of father was associated with the household exposure to secondhand smoke (adjusted OR 4.51 [95% CI 1.66-12.22]). More than half of the study participants (56.3%) reported that they were exposed to cigarette smoke in past 1 week in a public place and 10.2% in closed public places. Nearly one-third of the students reported that they have seen somebody smoking inside school campus in the past 30 days. CONCLUSION: Exposure to secondhand smoke at home, schools, and public places was higher among the late adolescent higher secondary school students in Ernakulam district. The findings underscore the urgent need for increased efforts to implement the strategies to reduce secondhand smoke exposure among adolescents.

An investigation on smoke-free environment and smoking statusat or below county-level governments / 预防医学

Objective To learn the smoke-free environment and smoking status at or below county-level governments of Zhejiang Province, and to promote a smoke-free government.Methods By multi-stage random sampling method, 4 cities were selected in Zhejiang Province, then 4 counties were selected in 4 cities, finally12 governments were selected in 4 counties.With the methods of field observation,interview and questionnaire survey,smoke-free environment and smoking behavior , tobacco related knowledge of civil servants were investigated.Results A total of 12 governments and 405 civil servants were investigated.The smoke-free environment of 12 governments were relatively well.The total smoking rate of civil servants was 17.78%, and the highest was 26.67% in Jiande City, and the lowest were 9.00% in Zhuji City.For the civil servants ,male(26.62%), aged 50-(40.74%),divorced or widowed(40.00%),graduation of technical secondary school (33.33%),cadre of section rank(57.14%),above 20 years' work(28.81%),smoking anywhere at home(50.00%), smoking in certain areas at work(22.95%)were significantly higher.The rate of cognition on the hazards of smoking was lower among the smokers than that of non-smokers (P<0.05).The rate of agreement on MPOWER tobacco control strategies and smoking bans in public places were lower among the smokers than that of non-smokers (P<0.05).Non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that age of 30-39(OR=9.87,95%CI:1.45-67.29),50-(OR=9.87,95%CI:1.45-67.29), smoking anywhere at home(OR=12.28,95%CI:2.95-51.18),and smoking in certain areas at home(OR=6.57,95%CI:3.07-14.08) may be the risk factors about smoking behavior.Conclusion The situation of smoking control at or below county-level governments in Zhejiang Province was good, and smoking rates has declined.But tobacco related knowledge and behavior of civil servants were relatively insufficient.Aiming at the problems found in the investigation, it is necessary to strengthen education on smoking control among civil servants, and to promote a smoke-free government.

Evaluation of a web-based educational programme on changes in frequency of nurses' interventions to help smokers quit and reduce second-hand smoke exposure in China.

AIMS: To evaluate a web-based educational smoking cessation programme on changes in the frequency of hospital-based nurses' self-reported interventions to help smokers quit using the 5 As (i.e. Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange), to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and to change attitudes about nurses' involvement in tobacco control. BACKGROUND: Few nurses in China support smokers' quit attempts using evidence-based smoking cessation interventions based on the 5 As. Limited knowledge is a barrier to intervention. Web-based tobacco cessation programs have the potential to reach a large population of nurses. DESIGN: A prospective single-group design with pre-, 3- and 6-month follow-up after the educational programme evaluated the feasibility of conducting web-based educational programs in two cities in China in 2012-2013. METHODS: Frequency of interventions was assessed using a valid and reliable web-based survey with a convenience sample of nurses from eight hospitals in Beijing and Hefei, China. Generalized linear models, adjusting for age, clinical setting, education and site were used to determine changes in the consistent (usually/always) use of the 5 As from baseline to 3 and to 6 months. RESULTS: Nurses (N = 1386) had baseline and/or 3- and 6-month data. At 6 months, nurses were significantly more likely to Assess, Assist and Arrange for smoking cessation and recommend smoke-free home environments. There was significant improvement in attitudes about tobacco control. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses receiving web-based smoking cessation education significantly increased self-reports of frequency of providing interventions to patients who smoke, including recommending smoke-free home environments to support quit attempts.

Study on knowledge, attitudes, and practice of tobacco control of medical staff in Gansu prov-ince / 中国卫生政策研究

Objective:Through a study on knowledge, attitudes, and practice of tobacco control of medical staff in Gansu Province, the paper aims to analyze the issues of participation, community tobacco control leadership and other aspects that impact the creation of a smoke-free healthcare system in order to provide a basis for the formulation of policies to improve the health professional mechanism of tobacco control. Methods:The stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select 34 companies, accounting for a total of 805 medical staff as the study population in all kinds of health institutions. A self-designed questionnaire was adopted to investigate their knowledge, attitudes, and practice via on-site self-administered surveys. Results:the medical staff lacks knowledge as to the depth and breadth of damage from the use of tobacco. Although their attitude towards tobacco control is positive, the comprehensive to-bacco control service capabilities are insufficient. Logistic regression analysis showed that tobacco control capabilities of medical staff is related to their attitude toward smoking and whether or not they discourage smoking or asking about smoking . Conclusion:The key to the creation of a smoke-free health system to lead the community in tobacco control is the targeted tobacco cessation knowledge and skills training of medical staff to reduce smoking rates among medical staff and enhance the awareness of administrative staff.