The effect of long-term awareness on active and passive tobacco smokers

Abstract

Background and objective: Tobacco addiction is a major public health problem. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted on the harms of tobacco products. However, the number of intervention studies investigating the effect of long-term awareness of the harm of tobacco products on the Fagerstrom nicotine addiction test (FTND), carbon monoxide (CO), carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and respiratory function test (RFT) are limited. Our goal is to investigate the impact of long-term scientific awareness on these parameters. Participant and Method: The study was designed an intervention study on active and passive smoking participants and their control groups. Intervention groups were given seminar program (up-to-date literature information and images on the harms of tobacco products) for eight weeks. Control groups were not given any training on the harms of tobacco products. Intervention groups were measured 8 times (FNBT, CO, COHb and SFT). Control groups were measured only in the first and last week. Result: When comparing the first and last weeks in active smoker intervention group (ASIG), the difference between FTND, FEV1, CO, and COHb parameters was observed to be statistically significant. The highest decrease in ASIG was in CO (60%) parameter and the highest increase was in the FEV1(%10) parameter. There was a significant difference between FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and CO parameters of passive smokers intervention group (PSIG). The highest decrease in PSIG was in the CO parameter (%65.8) and the highest increase was in the FVC (%10) parameter. Conclusion: Awareness programs may reduce the severity of addiction in active smokers and may help protect passive smokers. In the absence of any awareness, it may not positively change. As awareness increases, positive changes in some vital parameters may be possible. Up-to-date programs and policies are needed to make easy and sustainable awareness of both active and passive smoking.