Social climate on tobacco control in an advanced tobacco control country

Drug and Alcohol Review

Ollila

Karjalainen

2022

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Introduction In 2016, the Finnish Tobacco Act was revised to harmonise e‐cigarette regulations with the EU Tobacco Products Directive. Unlike before, the sale of nicotine‐containing e‐liquids was allowed while additional national regulations included, for example, a ban for other than unflavoured and tobacco‐flavoured e‐liquids. This study examines the correlates of e‐cigarette use before and after the comprehensive regulatory change, and characteristics and correlates of flavoured e‐cigarette use after the flavour ban in the general Finnish population. Methods Repeated cross‐sectional population‐based drug surveys for 15–69‐year‐olds in 2014 (n = 3485; 50% response rate) and in 2018 (n = 3229; 46%). Correlates of e‐cigarette use were studied with logistic regression models. Results Current e‐cigarette use remained infrequent (approximately 2%) and the correlates of e‐cigarette use varied only slightly between the study years. In 2018, of past‐year e‐cigarette users (n = 316), 43% used unflavoured e‐liquids, 24% used tobacco and 43% used other flavours, fruits being the most common. In univariate models, demographic variables, smoking and e‐cigarette use‐related factors were associated with flavoured e‐cigarette use. In multivariable models, those who used e‐cigarettes to experiment used unflavoured e‐cigarettes more likely than other than tobacco flavours (odds ratio 3.00, 95% confidence interval 1.15–7.82). Discussion and Conclusions In Finland, the regulated entry of nicotine‐containing e‐liquids to retail sales has not led to increased e‐cigarette use in the general population. After the flavour ban, other than tobacco‐flavoured e‐cigarette use still occurs. The use of flavoured e‐cigarettes is associated with reasons for e‐cigarette use. Flavoured e‐cigarette use and its correlates warrant further monitoring.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Correlates of e‐cigarette use before and after comprehensive regulatory changes and e‐liquid flavour ban among general population

Drug and Alcohol Review

Ollila

Karjalainen

2022

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“…Smokers are more likely to quit in countries where tobacco control policy is stricter [22]. Finland has a strict tobacco control policy, which is largely supported by the population [23]. Yet, supporting smokers in their efforts to quit has been one of the weakest points of the Finnish tobacco control policy [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between educational level and smoking cessation in an 11-year follow-up study of a national health survey

Härkänen

Lahti

et al. 2021

Scand J Public Health

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Aims: There is a lack of longitudinal, population-based studies on the association between education and smoking cessation. A more thorough examination of this association is needed to address inequalities in smoking. Methods: The longitudinal Health 2000 Survey and Health 2011 Survey, representing the Finnish population aged ⩾30 years, were analysed. Of the 1352 baseline daily smokers, 945 (70%) provided a smoking status at the follow-up. The analytic sample size was 884 (excluding the follow-up occasional smokers). Self-reported questionnaire data and measurements (e.g. plasma cotinine) from the baseline were utilised. The outcome variable was smoking cessation at the follow-up, and the main explanatory variable was education. Logistic regression was the main method for statistical analyses. All of the analyses accounted for the sampling design. Results: At the follow-up, 28% of the baseline daily smokers had quit smoking. An adjusted regression model showed that highly educated respondents had a higher likelihood of quitting smoking compared with those with basic education. Controlling for demographic and health-related variables had a modest effect on this association. Higher scores for plasma cotinine, symptoms of depression and heavy alcohol use were associated with a lower likelihood of quitting smoking. The association between education and smoking cessation was weaker for women than it was for men. Conclusions: High education is associated with smoking cessation among the general adult population, especially among men. A higher plasma cotinine level is strongly associated with continued smoking among both sexes. Background variables only modestly affected the association between education and smoking cessation.

“…As snus consumption has increased in Finland (National Institute for Health and Welfare, 2018), possible new policy actions should be considered to restrict the availability of snus even more. Probably, no strong opposition would occur as the acceptance of strict tobacco control policy is high in Finland (Ruokolainen et al, 2018). Studying the possible regional differences in both snus use and social mobility within Finland would be an interesting theme for further studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intergenerational social mobility, smoking and smokeless tobacco (snus) use among adolescents during 2008–2017

Ollila

Lahti

et al. 2019

Addictive Behaviors

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