Search

This study aims to determine whether current tobacco and/or alcohol use is associated with setting preferences for seeking support for substance use (SU) and mental health (MH) services to African Americans ages 50 and older. Data from 368 African American individuals (aged 50+) who participated in a community-based needs assessment survey were used. Preferences included community-based (e.g., health centers) and traditional settings (e.g., doctor's office). SU was measured as a categorical variable detailing past-month use of conventional cigarettes and alcohol graded by risk levels. Logistic regression models tested the associations between SU and setting preference before and after adjusting for the influence of self-reported MH diagnoses. Prior to adjustment for the influence of MH outcomes, high-risk use of tobacco and alcohol in the past month was associated with a lower odds of preferring MH/SU support in traditional settings (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.06–0.85) compared to participants engaged in no-/low- risk substance use. This association was no longer significant after accounting for the influence of mental health symptoms and covariates. These results provide preliminary evidence that mental health outcomes mediate the association between substance use and setting preference for seeking MH/SU support in traditional settings. This exploratory study encourages additional investigation of the association between substance use, setting preferences, and the likelihood of seeking treatment in community health centers using larger sample sizes. Additional opportunities to offer mental health/substance use support to African American older adults within clinical settings should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction We examined the differential impact of the 2012 Canadian GWL policy changes on key indicators of warning label impact and quit intentions using national cohorts of Canadian and U.S. adults who smoke. Aims and Methods We used data from all waves of the International Tobacco Control surveys (2002–2020) in Canada and the United States. Our key measures were quit intentions and an index of warning label effectiveness (salience, cognitive and behavioral reactions). We estimated overall policy impact by comparing Canada (treatment group) with the United States (control group) using controlled interrupted time series (CITS) regression models, with interactions to examine whether policy impact varied by sex, education, and income. Results The CITS model showed a statistically significant increase in the warning label effectiveness in Canada post-policy, compared to the United States (β = 0.84, 95% CI 0.35,1.33). Similarly, the odds of quit intentions were relatively higher among adults who smoked in Canada compared to the United States (OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.51,2.36) post-policy. The three-way interaction model showed that these associations were greater among adults from low socioeconomic status (SES) groups than in high SES groups. Conclusions The 2012 change in the Canadian GWL policy was associated with stronger cognitive and behavioral responses to GWLs and higher odds of quit intentions among adults who smoked in Canada when compared to the United States, specifically among individuals from low SES groups, suggesting a positive equity impact. Our findings affirm the need for countries to implement or enhance GWLs, in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Implications The evidence on the potential health equity benefit of GWL policies is mixed. To further understand the influence of GWL policies on tobacco use disparities, more systematic research using pre/post-policy designs with control groups is needed. Using a CITS model, we aimed to strengthen the available evidence on the causal influence of this tobacco control approach. Our findings show that the 2012 GWL policy change had a greater impact on adults who smoked from low SES groups than it did on adults who smoked from high SES groups, indicating a potentially positive equity impact and confirming the need for countries to implement or maximize the size of GWLs, as recommended by the WHO FCTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Expanding the information on determinants of smoking cessation is crucial for developing and implementing more effective tobacco control measures at the national as well as European levels. Data on smoking cessation and its social correlates among adults from middle-income countries of Central and Eastern Europe are still poorly reported in the literature. The aim of the study was to analyze the association of socio-demographic indicators with long term tobacco smoking cessation (quit smoking for at least one year prior to interview) among adults. Moreover, we evaluated motives for giving up smoking from former smokers. Methods Data on former as well as current smokers’ socio-demographic and smoking-related characteristics were derived from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). GATS is a cross-sectional, nationally representative household survey implemented in Poland between 2009 and 2010. GATS collected data on a representative sample of 7,840 individuals including 1,206 individuals who met the criteria of long-term smoking cessation and 2,233 current smokers. Smoking cessation rate was calculated as the number of former smokers divided by the number of ever smokers. Logistic regression analyses were used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the broad number of variables on successful cessation of smoking. Results Among females the quit rate was 30.4% compared to 37.9% in males (p Conclusion Results indicated that smoking cessation policies focused on younger age groups are vital for curbing tobacco epidemic in Poland and should become a public health main concern. There is also the need for interventions to raise awareness on smoking health risks and quitting benefits are crucial to increase cessation potential among adult smokers. Nevertheless further effort needs to be done to prevent smoking uptake.

Objectives: At least 50% of smokers die prematurely. Those who smoke heavily are at an increased health risk. The purpose of the current report was to evaluate socio-demographic correlates of heavy smoking among employed men and women.Material and Methods: Data derive from the representative, household study - the Global Adult Tobacco Survey conducted in Poland over the years 2008-2010.Results: Of 14 000 households selected for the survey, 7840 sampled individuals completed the interviews. Among 1189 daily smokers, the rate of heavy smokers was 63.5% in males and 43% in employed females (p < 0.001). The study showed that age and age at the smoking onset were significantly associated with heavy smoking among both genders. Among males and females the heavy smoking rate was the highest in the subjects that started smoking at the age between 14-17 years compared to those who started smoking at the age ≥ 21 years (odds ratio (OR) = 3.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2-5.5, p < 0.001 and OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4-5.3, p < 0.0001, respectively). The men with house rules that prohibited smoking with some exceptions were 2.4 times more likely to be heavy smokers in comparison with those having rules which completely prohibited it (p < 0.01). The men working in workplaces where smoking was prohibited in all indoor areas were at lower odds of heavy smoking relative to those working in areas where smoking was allowed everywhere (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9, p < 0.05). Among the men, there was also an association between job features and heavy smoking, which was not observed among the women.Conclusions: These findings should be taken into account while developing tobacco control measures addressed to economically active population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) constitutes a threat to the health of many people. In order to diminish ETS exposure, countries (including Poland) implemented legal restrictions of smoking in public places and worksites. Currently more attention is also paid to reduce overall and residential ETS exposure by voluntary smoke-free home policy adoption. The aim of current analysis was to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of implementing smoking bans at place of residence among economically active males and females in Poland.Material and Methods: Data from cross-sectional, household study - Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS 2009-2010) were analyzed. The logistic regression model was applied for appropriate calculations.Results: Out of 3696 studied subjects only 37.1% adopted total smoking ban within the home. Decreased likelihood of adopting total smoking bans was associated with current smoker status, low education attainment, lack of awareness on adverse health consequences of ETS, low level of support for tobacco control policies, and cohabitation with a smoker in both genders. Having smoke-free homes was also linked with age in women, place of residence and work smoking policy in indoor areas in men.Conclusions: Targeted activities to encourage adopting voluntary smoke-free rules among groups least likely to implement 100% smoking bans in the home and activities to decrease social acceptance of smoking in the presence of nonsmokers, children, pregnant woman are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A tobacco surveillance system is crucial for improving the planning and implementation of effective tobacco control policies. The purpose of the presented study was to describe a review of the process of implementation and methodological assumption of a Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in Poland. The study strengths and limitations are evaluated, as well as some recommendations given for further tobacco surveillance activities in Poland., Material and Methods: The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) was implemented in Poland between 2008-2010. The survey population selection process was based on a three-stage stratified geographically-clustered sample of a non-institutional population aged 15 years and over. Those who lived in institutions were not surveyed. The GATS questionnaire was very detailed and provides a significant amount of data. The filed work was preceded by several training sessions for all survey staff and the pretest. Questionnaires were administered in respondents' homes during the face-to-face interviews., Results: Of the 14,000 households selected for the survey, 8,948 (63.9%) households and 7,840 (93.9%) sampled individuals completed the interviews. The total survey response rate was 65.1%., Conclusions: GATS was an important step towards obtaining representative, current data on the tobacco epidemic in Poland. Basic results of the study are currently available. More in-depth analysis will provide useful data for public health experts and policymakers to assign resources and establish health priorities. Unfortunately, competing targets and lack of awareness on the part of stakeholders still constrains the financial resources available to those undertaking tobacco control research in Poland. The circumscribed capacity to undertake multidisciplinary policy research limits both the quality and quantity of such studies. There is an urgent need to establish a nationally coordinated plan for surveillance of data collection, use, access and dissemination, with defined institutional roles for each of these functions and the funds dedicated to the research.