scholarly journals Age at Smoking Initiation in Slovenia

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Koprivnikar ◽  
Aleš Korošec

Abstract Background. Smoking is initiated mostly by adolescents and young adults. In Slovenia, we have limited data about this. The purpose of this paper is to show data on age at smoking initiation and differences in age at smoking initiation by gender, age groups, education, social class and geographical region among inhabitants of Slovenia. Methods. We used data from the cross-sectional survey ‘Health-related behaviour 2012’ in Slovenian population aged from 25 to 74 years. Results. 4591 ever smokers, aged 25-74, that gave information about the age at smoking initiation were included in the analysis. At the age of 25 or less, smoking was initiated by 96.7% of Slovene ever smokers, at the age of 18 or less by 71.0%. The average age at smoking initiation was 17.7 years. Male ever smokers initiated smoking at an earlier age compared to female ones. Age at smoking initiation was decreasing in both male and female ever smokers, but was more pronounced in females. In male ever smokers, there were no differences in average smoking initiation age by education, self-reported social class and geographical regions, while in female ever smokers, there were significant differences in terms of education and geographical regions. Conclusion. The initiation of smoking predominantly occurs in adolescents and young adults. Age at smoking initiation has decreased in recent decades. Our study confirms the importance of early and sustained smoking prevention programmes in youth and the importance of national comprehensive tobacco control programme with effective tobacco control measures to ban tobacco products marketing.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e025297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Critchlow ◽  
Anne Marie MacKintosh ◽  
Christopher Thomas ◽  
Lucie Hooper ◽  
Jyotsna Vohra

ObjectivesTo explore awareness of alcohol marketing and ownership of alcohol branded merchandise in adolescents and young adults in the UK, what factors are associated with awareness and ownership, and what association awareness and ownership have with alcohol consumption, higher-risk drinking and susceptibility.DesignOnline cross-sectional survey conducted during April–May 2017.SettingThe UK.ParticipantsAdolescents and young adults aged 11–19 years in the UK (n=3399).Main outcome measuresAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) (0–12) and indication of higher-risk consumption (>5 AUDIT-C) in current drinkers. Susceptibility to drink (yes/no) in never drinkers.ResultsEighty-two per cent of respondents were aware of at least one form of alcohol marketing in the past month and 17% owned branded merchandise. χ2tests found that awareness of marketing and ownership of branded merchandise varied within drinking variables. For example, higher awareness of alcohol marketing was associated with being a current drinker (χ2=114.04, p<0.001), higher-risk drinking (χ2=85.84, p<0.001), and perceived parental (χ2=63.06, p<0.001) and peer approval of consumption (χ2=73.08, p<0.001). Among current drinkers, multivariate regressions (controlling for demographics and covariates) found that marketing awareness and owning branded merchandise was positively associated with AUDIT-C score and higher-risk consumption. For example, current drinkers reporting medium marketing awareness were twice as likely to be higher-risk drinkers as those reporting low awareness (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.18, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.42, p<0.001). Among never drinkers, respondents who owned branded merchandise were twice as likely to be susceptible to drinking as those who did not (AOR=1.98, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.24, p<0.01).ConclusionsYoung people, above and below the legal purchasing age, are aware of a range of alcohol marketing and almost one in five own alcohol branded merchandise. In current drinkers, alcohol marketing awareness was associated with increased consumption and greater likelihood of higher-risk consumption. In never drinkers, ownership of branded merchandise was associated with susceptibility.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 554-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Varty ◽  
Lori L. Popejoy

The transition of chronically ill adolescents and young adults to adult health care is poorly managed, leading to poor outcomes due to insufficient disease knowledge and a lack of requisite skills to self-manage their chronic disease. This review analyzed 33 articles published between 2009 and 2019 to identify factors associated with transition readiness in adolescents and young adults with chronic diseases, which can be used to design effective interventions. Studies were predominantly cross-sectional survey designs that were guided by interdisciplinary research teams, assessed adolescents and young adults ages 12–26 years, and conducted in the outpatient setting. Modifiable factors, including psychosocial and self-management/transition education factors, and non-modifiable factors, including demographic/ecological and disease factors, associated with transition readiness were identified. Further research is necessary to address gaps identified in this review prior to intervention development, and there is a need for additional longitudinal studies designed to provide perspective on how transition readiness changes over time.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e048319
Author(s):  
Andrea Meienberg ◽  
Michael Mayr ◽  
Annina Vischer ◽  
Michael J Zellweger ◽  
Thilo Burkard

ObjectivesIn 2014, a hospital-based smoking prevention programme ‘Nichtrauchen ist clever!’ (NIC!) for adolescents aged 12–14 was initiated. The aim of the study was to evaluate participants’ smoking behaviour and to explore the acceptance of the programme, and participants’ awareness on smoking-related diseases and factors that promote smoking initiation.DesignWe performed a cross-sectional survey to evaluate participant’s acceptance of the NIC! program and their smoking habits. A total of 1658 participants completed the survey between January 2016 and December 2019. A qualitative approach, including analysing feedback from students gathered at 77 prevention events between June 2014 and December 2019, was used to assess their view on reasons for smoking initiation and their knowledge about smoking-related diseases.ResultsTwenty-six per cent (429/1658) have already tried tobacco products (so called triers), specifically cigarettes, electronic (e)-cigarettes and shisha. The use of e-cigarettes was most popular among triers 58% (252/429). Eighty-eight per cent of participants (1408/1604) reported they had acquired good or excellent knowledge about smoking, and 89% (1439/1617) of participants stated that they intend not to smoke in the future. Particularly lung cancer and cancer in general, heart—and vascular diseases were frequently mentioned to be smoking related; where, on the other hand, a large number of relevant smoking-associated diseases were mentioned irregularly. Peer pressure, stress and coolness were identified as reasons for smoking initiation, whereas the influence of marketing and multimedia, as well as socioeconomic—and lifestyle-related factors on smoking behaviour was barely noticed.ConclusionNIC! had a high acceptance among the participants and a large number of students reported relevant gain of knowledge. We identified important knowledge-gaps relating to smoking initiation and smoking-related diseases, helping to improve further smoking prevention approaches.


Author(s):  
Kaitlyn Howden ◽  
Adam P. Yan ◽  
Camille Glidden ◽  
Razvan G. Romanescu ◽  
Ian Scott ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
pp. 003335492199939
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Noyes ◽  
Ellis Yeo ◽  
Megan Yerton ◽  
Isabel Plakas ◽  
Susan Keyes ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged the ability of harm reduction programs to provide vital services to adolescents, young adults, and people who use drugs, thereby increasing the risk of overdose, infection, withdrawal, and other complications of drug use. To evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on harm reduction services for adolescents and young adults in Boston, we conducted a quantitative assessment of the Community Care in Reach (CCIR) youth pilot program to determine gaps in services created by its closure during the peak of the pandemic (March 19–June 21, 2020). We also conducted semistructured interviews with staff members at 6 harm reduction programs in Boston from April 27 through May 4, 2020, to identify gaps in harm reduction services, changes in substance use practices and patterns of engagement with people who use drugs, and how harm reduction programs adapted to pandemic conditions. During the pandemic, harm reduction programs struggled to maintain staffing, supplies, infection control measures, and regular connection with their participants. During the 3-month suspension of CCIR mobile van services, CCIR missed an estimated 363 contacts, 169 units of naloxone distributed, and 402 syringes distributed. Based on our findings, we propose the following recommendations for sustaining harm reduction services during times of crisis: pursuing high-level policy changes to eliminate political barriers to care and fund harm reduction efforts; enabling and empowering harm reduction programs to innovatively and safely distribute vital resources and build community during a crisis; and providing comprehensive support to people to minimize drug-related harms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Sheikh Saifur Rahman Jony ◽  
Ubydul Haque ◽  
Nathaniel J. Webb ◽  
Emily Spence ◽  
Md. Siddikur Rahman ◽  
...  

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that greater encouragement from government health authorities and the promotion of health education and policies are essential in the dissemination of COVID-19-awareness and increased control of the spread of COVID-19.


2020 ◽  
Vol 232 (06) ◽  
pp. 294-299
Author(s):  
Maria Otth ◽  
Sibylle Denzler ◽  
Sibylle Schmid ◽  
Birgitta Setz ◽  
Katrin Scheinemann

Abstract Background Inpatient rehabilitation improves physical and psychosocial performance in childhood cancer patients and their families. Two kinds of inpatient rehabilitation are available in specialized institutions in Germany: family-oriented rehabilitation or peer group-oriented rehabilitation for adolescents and young adults (AYA). Our study aimed to find out what Swiss childhood and AYA cancer patients and their families thought about the rehabilitation programs in which they had participated. Patients and methods We conducted a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study of Swiss childhood and AYA cancer patients and their families whose inpatient rehabilitation stays were scheduled to take place in Germany between May 2012 and March 2019. We analyzed the data descriptively and present our findings in accordance with the STROBE statement. Results Of the 57 eligible families contacted, 38 (67%) responded. Most rated the rehabilitation stay as very good (68%) or good (26%). Nearly all participants emphasized that these programs should be available to all affected patients and their families. Most (80%) thought the program gave them enough valuable information to enable them to cope with daily life after the stay ended. Only one fifth (19%) of the rehabilitation stays were fully funded by the health or disability insurance. Conclusion Participants expressed an overwhelmingly positive opinion about the rehabilitation programs they attended. We are convinced that childhood and AYA cancer patients and their families in Switzerland benefit from these programs and encourage insurances to cover the costs.


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