Risk factors associated with smoking behaviour in recreational venues: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) China Survey

Abstract

ObjectiveTo explore the determinants of smoking behaviour in recreational venues and to provide scientific bases for establishing smoke-free measures applying to these locations.MethodsThe International Tobacco Control (ITC) China Survey—a face-to-face cross-sectional survey of representative adult smokers from six cities (Shenyang, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha and Yinchuan) was conducted between April and August 2006. A total of 4815 smokers were selected using multistage sampling methods, and final analyses were conducted on 2875 smokers who reported patronising recreational venues at least once in the last six months. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors influencing the smoking behaviour within recreational settings.Outcome measureWhether a smoker reported smoking in recreational venues during the last 6 months.Results84% subjects reported smoking in recreational venues. Analyses showed that smoke-free laws had been exempted, 32.0% of the patrons reporting bans on smoking in these locations. The following factors were significant predictors of smoking in recreational venues: absence of bans on smoking, support for non-bans, being aged 18–24 years, positive smoking-related attitudes, low number of health effects reported and not living in Beijing.ConclusionsThe findings point to the importance of informing Chinese smokers about the active smoking and passive smoking harmfulness in both building support for smoke-free laws and in reducing smokers’ desire to smoke within recreational venues. They also point to the importance of good enforcement of smoke-free laws when implemented. Such strategies could also serve to de-normalise smoking in China, a key strategy for reducing smoking in general.

Facilitators and Barriers of Smokers’ Compliance with Smoking Bans in Public Places: A Systematic Review of Quantitative and Qualitative Literature

“…We assessed 114 full-text articles for eligibility and, finally, 17 articles published between 1998 and 2015 were included in this review. In these included studies, one article [23] was published before 2000, eight articles [16,17,18,24,25,26,27,28] were published between 2000 and 2009, and eight articles [5,9,29,30,31,32,33,34] were published after 2010. …”

“…Different countries have different attitudes towards the smoking bans and strategies for effective implementation. The bans differ across countries [9]. Studies have shown that developed countries were more successful in implementing the smoking bans than developing countries [10] where the support for the bans might be limited by the lack of knowledge and awareness about the adverse effects of passive smoking [11].…”

Prevalence and predictors of smoking in “smoke-free” bars. Findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Europe Surveys

“…This question was used as indicator of support for smoke-free legislation in several other studies (Borland et al, 2006; Fong et al, 2006b; Li et al, 2010; Yong et al, 2010). SHS harm awareness was assessed at the pre-ban surveys using the question “In the last month, how often, if at all, did you think about the harm your smoking might be doing to other people?” This question was also used in previous studies (Borland et al, 2006; Yong et al, 2010).…”

“…Psychosocial variables that are possible mediators of the relationship between these policy-specific variables and smoking in bars post-ban are smokers’ attitudes towards smoking (Sheldon, 2010) and perceived societal approval of smoking (Brown et al, 2009). Findings from baseline ITC Project surveys showed that support for the ban (Borland et al, 2006; Li et al, 2010; Yong et al, 2010) and SHS harm awareness, smokers’ attitudes towards smoking, and perceived societal approval of smoking (Li et al, 2010) were associated with smoking in the hospitality industry. However, these findings were cross-sectional, and the studied countries did not have national level smoke-free hospitality industry legislation in place at the time of the survey.…”

Geo-Epidemiology of Tobacco Smoking in Europe and the impact of Twelve Tobacco Control Measures

“…Approximately 4000 chemicals have been detected in tobacco smoke, 60 of which are known or suspected to be carcinogens [4]. Hence, various diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases or diseases of the respiratory system are caused by or deteriorated with tobacco use [4,5].…”