Offering nicotine patches to all households in a community with high smoking rates: Pilot test of a population-based approach to promote tobacco cessation

BackgroundThe objective of this project is to determine the effectiveness of targeting a community with a high smoking rate with the distribution of free-of-charge nicotine patches in order to promote tobacco cessation. Methods/DesignOne small community with an elevated smoking rate (compared to national and provincial averages) has been identified. All households in the community will be sent a letter offering one smoker (18 years or older; 10 or more cigarettes per day) in the household a free-of-charge mailed five-week supply of nicotine patches (up to a total of 800 five-week kits will be available for distribution). Participants receiving nicotine patches will be asked to complete a six-month follow-up survey assessing tobacco cessation defined as 30-day point prevalence abstinence. In addition, attempts will be made to employ ongoing national population surveys containing cigarette smoking variables to compare changes in smoking prevalence in the target community to other communities with similar characteristics. DiscussionWe will examine whether the concentrated distribution of mailed nicotine patches will result in a measurable reduction in smoking rates in the target community. If demonstrated, this would provide support for the targeted population-level distribution of an effective individual-level public health intervention. Clinical Trials registrationNCT04534231

Pattern and quitting of tobacco smoking among Egyptian university students

ObjectivesUniversity students are at high risk of practicing the smoking habit being exposed to smoking peers and easier cigarette availability.MethodsThis study aims to explore prevalence, attitude and pattern of tobacco smoking and quitting among Beni-Suef University students. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2019. A total of 4,599 students were selected by using randomized multi-stage sampling using self-administered questionnaire for data collection.ResultsThe mean age of students found to be smokers was 20.8 ± 1.42 years. Males: Females' ratio was 2:1 (66 vs.34%). Prevalence of smoking was 17.4%. Students of non-medical and non-health colleges showed a significant high smoking rate (18.8 and 18.3% respectively) than students in health faculties (15.2%); p=0.017. Participants believed that they might smoke because of: peers' pressure (73.3%), stress (71.4%), imitating popular figures (61.7%) and availability of money (60.4%). Regarding smoking provinces; 86.1% did smoke in coffee-shops, 73.1% in university yards and only 16.87% used to smoke at home Regarding the attitudes of smokers and nonsmokers towards smoking; the acceptance of indoor smoking was significantly higher (85.6%) among smokers than non-smokers (6.42%); p=0.0001. Of note; 51.2% of smokers versus 86.3% of non-smokers agreed to ban smoking in public places (P=0.001). Majority of smokers (72.1%) had the desire to stop smoking while (57.8%) tried to stop smoking but failed.ConclusionsSmoking is becoming a habit among university students and initiative of a smoke free environment should be encouraged and subject and method.

Smoking Prevalence and Parameters among University Students, Saudi Arabia

Background: According to WHO, tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced with 21% of the global population aged 15 and above smoked tobacco. Which killing around 6 million people a year. More than 5 million of those deaths are the result of direct tobacco use while more than 600 000 are the result of non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. Objectives: The study aimed to find the Onset, Prevalence, Type, and Frequency of smoking. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from December 2013 - May 2014. The target population was students of male gender studying in Majmaah University. A total of 325 students aged between 19-25 years were randomly chosen from different Colleges of ALMajmaah University. Results: Seventy two students (22.2%) were smokers, 74 (22.8%) were second hand smokers. Remaining 253 (55%) were non smokers. 41 of smokers (56.9%) were smoking cigarettes. 25 (34.7%) were smoking water pipe, and 6 (8.3%) were smoking both types. Most cigarette smokers were smoking one pack per day (25) students and (15) students were smoking water pipe once daily. Majority of smokers were smokers since 2-4 years (45.8%) and (40.3%) were smoking from five years or more. Conclusion: High smoking rate in Majmaah university students indicate that more researches need to find out causes of smoking. Intervention and awareness programme should be conducted to reduce prevalence of Smoking.

FOLATE METABOLISM IMPAIRMENT IN SMOKING PREGNANT WOMEN

Tobacco smoking is one of the pressing issues of public health. Russia ranks among the countries with a very high smoking rate. Smoking frequency among pregnant women in St. Petersburg is about 26.4%, among which 18.9% of the women smoke every day, and the rest 7.5% of them on the occasion. Complications from pregnancy (threatening miscarriage, premature delivery, anaemia) and from labour and delivery (labour abnormalities) in the smoking women occurs at almost twice the rate in those non-smoking, threatening miscarriage and anaemia notably having a more severe clinical picture and being more reluctant to the therapy. Smoking is one of the risk factors of hyperhomocysteinemia, which is in turn a marker of the folate metabolism impairment in the organism. It has been shown that homocysteine plasma level increases in the smoking pregnant women. Besides, a significant decrease in folate plasma level has been found in the same women. It is a folate deficiency that most of all raises homocysteine level in blood plasma. It has been proved that elevated homocysteine level has a direct toxic effect on the endothelium. Microthrombosis and microcirculation loss result in a series of obstetric complications. In late pregnancy, hyperhomocysteinemia causes chronic fetoplacental insufficiency and chronic intrauterine hypoxia. Therefore, many complications from pregnancy, such as gestosis and fetoplacental insufficiency, are associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, which is most probably caused by the smoking derived folate metabolism impairment. Supplementary folate and vitamin B complex therapy may possibly improve the pregnancy and delivery outcome in the pregnant women with high homocysteine plasma level. This, however, requires supportive clinical trials. Smoking cessation at birth spacing and prevention of hyperhomocysteinemia must be an essential condition for favourable prognosis for pregnancy.

Article Commentary: Secondhand Smoking in Jordan: Clearing the Air for One of the Highest Tobacco Prevalence Countries in the Middle East

As the rate of tobacco consumption in Jordan increases, Jordanian policy makers are urged to develop guidelines on smoking exposures. This paper is concerned with the magnitude of exposure and harm caused by secondhand smoke (SHS) on childbearing women and young children. Despite a strict policy that limits tobacco advertising and efforts by the Ministry of Health, which include cessation programs and education on the adverse effect of smoking, the country sustains its high smoking rate, especially among men. According to the data gathered in this paper, special concern should be directed toward children's SHS exposure. Only four recent studies on SHS exposure among Jordanian women and children were encountered. Moreover, Jordan has legislation that bans smoking in public institutions; however, the enforcement of the law is extremely poor in most locations. Recommendations are presented to aid policy makers and law enforcement agencies in addressing this issue.