Exploring the Demand for Cigarettes: An Analysis of Adults in Malaysia

Smoking is an alarming public health issue in today’s rapidly urbanising society. The objective of the present study is to investigate factors associated with the demand for cigarettes among adults in Malaysia, i.e., an ASEAN country. Statistical analyses were performed using nationally representative data with a large sample. In terms of multivariate analysis, a Tobit model was used to examine the effects of sociodemographic factors on expenditure on cigarettes. Both conditional and unconditional expectations were estimated. We found that age, gender, wealth index, education and house locality were significantly associated with expenditure on cigarettes. The elderly spent less on cigarettes compared with young adults. Males and less-educated individuals spent more on cigarettes than females and well-educated individuals. There was a positive relationship between residing in urban areas and cigarettes expenditure. In conclusion, sociodemographic factors play an important role in determining the demand for cigarettes. Findings of the present study show that a successful anti-smoking policy should be targeted primarily at individuals who spend a large amount of money on cigarettes.

Awareness Video Creations to Support Rookvrije Voetbalstadions in FC Twente

A "no smoking" policy as part of Rookvrije Voetbalstadions or Smoke-free Football Stadiums Campaign will be applied in all soccer stadiums below the Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Divisie starting the season 2020/2021. As one of those soccer stadiums, FC Twente has several problems realizing the "no smoking" policy. First is the online issue; lack of media as a source of information and knowledge. Second is the offline issues; no "no smoking" sign inside the stadium and minimum enforcer source. These problems lead to the reason for the unawareness situation of their smoking visitors. An Awareness Video has been made to help FC Twente raise their smoking visitors' awareness of the "no smoking" policy inside the stadium. The writer has done observation on the stadium, researched FC Twente's fans, and analyzed both, using Design Thinking Methodology as the framework.

Research on the Development of Liberalism and Nonsmoking Policy from the Perspective of Order and Happy Life

Based on human social order and good life, this paper first introduces the historical origin of western liberalism, combs the development process of liberalism, and finally points out that order is the basis of harmonious life of human society and liberalism. The same is true for the non-smoking policy. Smokers have the freedom to smoke, non-smokers also have the freedom to stay away from the source of smoke. However, their freedom cannot affect others' freedom to breathe fresh air. Freedom is not unlimited. Freedom is based on the premise of not interfering with the legitimate rights of others. This is the basic concept of modern society ruled by law. In other words, how to establish legal order or enjoy freedom under the framework of law. Liberalism is not only to achieve personal interests. If liberalism is completely like Hobbes's "jungle law", then each of us will always live in terror. Who is willing to live in such a society? Therefore, human happiness is the ultimate destination of liberalism. As Rousseau, a liberal and democratic thinker, said, "life is free, but without chains, there is no future". The same is true for the nonsmoking policy. It is necessary to establish the corresponding legal order or public order. The good life in this paper is also based on this social order.

Students’ perceptions of a university ‘No Smoking’ policy and barriers to implementation: a cross- sectional study

ObjectivesEffective policies are an important tool for reducing tobacco use. We examine student perceptions of the existing no-smoking policy in the country’s largest national university and identify perceived barriers to its implementation. We explore student support for a 100% tobacco-free campus policy.DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered on-line questionnaire.SettingThis study was conducted at Qatar University (QU), the largest national institution of higher education in Qatar.ParticipantsA total of 199 students participated out of a stratified random sample of students aged ≥18 years with active registration in the Spring 2020 semester.Primary and secondary outcome measuresWe assessed students’ knowledge of and attitudes towards QU’s current no-smoking policy, the perceived barriers to its implementation, and support for a 100% tobacco-free policy.ResultsOnly 26% (95% CI 19.97 to 32.03) and 16.6% (95% CI 11.70 to 22.49) of respondents correctly identified the current policy on traditional and electronic cigarettes, respectively. Less than 30% of respondents held positive attitudes towards policy enforcement, and more male respondents reported positive attitudes towards compliance than women. Support for a 100% tobacco-free policy was at 77.2%, but it was significantly lower among tobacco users compared with non-users (35.9% and 91.8%, respectively; p<0.001). Failure to establish clear penalties, opposition from smoking students, and lack of cessation services were perceived as major barriers to implementation.ConclusionsClear and comprehensive tobacco-free policies are important tools for creating environments conducive to rejecting smoking and seeking cessation support. The findings underscore the need to increase awareness about the policy, advocate for clear penalties for violations, and promote cessation services on campus. Qualitative research is needed to further understand perceived barriers to successful enforcement of the policy.

Smokers’ and Non-Smokers’ Attitudes towards Smoking Cessation in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Literature on smoking in Saudi Arabia is extensive. However, studies capturing the attitudes of both smokers and non-smokers towards smoking cessation are few. A PRISMA-P protocol guided systematic searches in MEDLINE and CINAHL on MeSH terms (smoking cessation AND Saudi Arabia). Peer reviewed articles in English were included in the narrative analysis. Screening reduced the 152 articles identified to 15 and independent critical appraisal identified 10 final articles for review. Few adopted validated survey tools or mentioned the best practice to be followed. There was considerable variation in the prevalence of smoking reported (13.7–49.2%) and survey response rates (8.9–100%). There was a paucity of quality evidence but it is clear that the smoking pandemic is still resonant in Saudi Arabia. Despite support for education programs to prevent the uptake of smoking, policy-driven action to reduce environmental second-hand smoking, and provision of support for smoking cessation, more needs to be done.

Increases in Secondhand Smoke After Going Smoke-Free: An Assessment of the Impact of a Mandated Smoke-Free Housing Policy

Objective The 12-month impact of federally mandated smoke-free housing (SFH) policy adoption (July 2018) was assessed using two markers of ambient secondhand smoke (SHS): airborne nicotine and particulate matter at the 2.5-micrometer threshold (PM2.5). Methods We measured markers of SHS in Norfolk, VA from December 2017 to December 2018 in six federally subsidized multi-unit public housing buildings. Multi-level regression was used to model the following comparisons: (1) the month immediately before SFH implementation versus the month immediately after, and (2) December 2017 versus December 2018. Results There was a 27% reduction in indoor PM2.5 and a 32% reduction in airborne nicotine in the first month after SFH adoption, compared to the month prior to adoption. However, there was a 33% increase in PM2.5 and a 25% increase in airborne nicotine after 12 months. Conclusions US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-mandated SFH can reduce SHS in multi-unit housing. However, SFH could also plausibly increase indoor smoking. Policy approaches adopted by individual properties or housing authorities—for example, property-wide bans versus allowing designated smoking areas—could be driving this potential unintended consequence. Implications Successful implementation of SFH by public housing authorities in response to the HUD rule requires ongoing attention to implementation strategies. In this sense, SFH likely differs from other policies that might be seen as less intrusive. Long-term success of SFH will depend on careful policy implementation, including plans to educate and support housing authority staff, inform and engage residents, and build effective partnerships with community agencies.