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Al-Jayyousi GF, Shraim M, Hassan DA, Al-Hamdani M, Kurdi R, Hamad NA, Abdul Rahim HF. University students' and staff attitudes toward the implementation of a " tobacco-free" policy: A view from Qatar. Prev Med Rep 2024; 38:102605. [PMID: 38292026 PMCID: PMC10826297 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Tobacco-free campus policies are needed to create environments conducive to prevention or quitting in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), where the use of various tobacco products is on the rise among university students. The objectives of this study were to assess overall support for a 100% tobacco-free campus policy and its predictors among different stakeholder groups at the largest national university in Qatar and to understand attitudes towards specific policy components. Study design A cross-sectional online survey of faculty and students. Methods We measured sociodemographic variables, tobacco use, and support for components of a 100% tobacco-free campus policy. A total score for support was calculated, and associations with selected predictors were assessed using multivariable linear regression. Results 413 respondents participated in the survey. A majority of faculty/staff and students (76.6% and 75.5%, respectively) supported the implementation of a 100% tobacco-free campus policy, with a majority supporting extension of the policy beyond cigarettes. Support for other components of the policy varied. Among students, overall support was lower among males and tobacco users and higher among the married. Among faculty and staff, support was lower among Qatari nationals and tobacco users. Conclusion In the context of a growing tobacco crisis in the EMR, implementing and understanding the impact of tobacco-free campus policies is essential. This paper underscores the importance of addressing diverse stakeholder attitudes and providing empirical evidence to guide policy implementation and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghadir Fakhri Al-Jayyousi
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mujahed Shraim
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Diana Alsayed Hassan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammed Al-Hamdani
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Rana Kurdi
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Noor Ahmed Hamad
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hanan F. Abdul Rahim
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
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Vogel EA, Barrington-Trimis JL, Harlow AF, Wong M, Cho J, Han DH, Leventhal AM, Tackett AP. Prevalence of and disparities in adolescents' susceptibility to novel oral nicotine products marketed as " tobacco-free". Prev Med 2023; 166:107387. [PMID: 36503016 PMCID: PMC9845133 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Non-therapeutic, novel oral nicotine products are convenient, discreet to use, and flavored, with increasing sales in the United States. It is unclear whether these products appeal predominantly to adolescents already susceptible to inhalable nicotine products, or whether they attract adolescents who would not otherwise use nicotine. This study examined prevalence and correlates of susceptibility to inhalable and oral nicotine product use among adolescents. Ninth- and tenth-grade students from Southern California who had never used any nicotine product (N = 3129) completed an online survey in Fall 2021 assessing susceptibility to inhalable (i.e., cigarettes, e-cigarettes) and oral (e.g., pouches, gum, gummies) nicotine products. Multinomial logistic regression analyses estimated associations of demographic characteristics with odds of susceptibility to oral, inhalable, or both products. Susceptibility was highest for e-cigarettes (19.7%), followed by cigarettes (15.0%) and nicotine gum, lozenges, tablets and/or gummies (15.0%), and nicotine pouches (8.7%). Dual susceptibility to oral and inhalable products (vs. neither product type) was higher in cisgender female and non-cisgender (vs. cisgender male) adolescents (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.36-2.02; ps < 0.05). Hispanic adolescents (vs. Asian) were more susceptible to both products (OR = 1.47; p < .05). Lower-socioeconomic status (SES) and sexual minority adolescents were more susceptible to oral (ORs = 1.76-1.87; ps < 0.05) and both products (ORs = 1.32-1.88; ps < 0.05), compared to higher-SES and heterosexual adolescents. Adolescents in Southern California may be more susceptible to e-cigarettes than other nicotine/tobacco products. However, appreciable numbers may be susceptible to oral nicotine products, including some youth who might not otherwise use nicotine and youth from populations historically impacted by tobacco-related health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A Vogel
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, United States of America.
| | - Jessica L Barrington-Trimis
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Alyssa F Harlow
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Melissa Wong
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Junhan Cho
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Dae-Hee Han
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Adam M Leventhal
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Alayna P Tackett
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America; Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, United States of America; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, United States of America
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Gupta A, Sharda S, Yogitha P, Goel S, Goyal A, Gauba K. Systematic content analysis of online information on herbal smoking products. Indian J Tuberc 2021; 68S:S71-S79. [PMID: 34538396 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijtb.2021.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herbal smoking products (HSPs) are marketed as a safer alternative to tobacco. These are easily available at affordable prices in the online retail websites. This study aimed to analyze the HSP-related informational content available in the most popular online platforms. METHODS Google, Yahoo, Bing and YouTube online platforms were searched for HSP related content using appropriate keywords. First 50 search results were retrieved and screened for potential eligibility. The included web-pages were categorized as video and still records. From each included record, information regarding source, primary theme, health benefits/hazards and tone was abstracted. Additionally, video production quality, like ratio and video power index was also computed for each video record. All included records were subjected to descriptive statistics and Chi-square test, as appropriate. Level of significance was set at <0.05. RESULTS 174 still and 94 video records were included. 35.6% of the included still records were sourced by manufacturers/suppliers while that of scientific origin was 12.1%. 83% of the video-records were posted by general public. About 90% of the included records had not mentioned anything regarding age restrictions. 67.8% of the still records and 87.2% of the video records promoted the use of HSPs. CONCLUSIONS The informational content presented online is huge, mostly posted by the general public without any scientific rationale and exclusively favors the use of HSPs. There is no age restriction as to who can access the information, making this content easily accessible to people of all ages. Such spread of information may mislead the public in adopting the smoking of these herbal products. Since HSPs may act as a potential gateway to tobacco smoking, there is an urgent need to regulate the content available online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpit Gupta
- Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Shweta Sharda
- Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Pothamsetty Yogitha
- Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Sonu Goel
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India; Public Health Masters Program, School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Ireland; Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, United Kingdom
| | - Ashima Goyal
- Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Krishan Gauba
- Oral Health Sciences Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh, 160012, India
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Marion JW, Strand A, Baldridge E. Changes in student behaviors and policy opinion regarding E-cigarettes at a Kentucky University from 2014 to 2018. Prev Med Rep 2021; 22:101364. [PMID: 33868903 PMCID: PMC8047220 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The behaviors and opinions regarding e-cigarette use and campus policies prohibiting vaping vary greatly among college students nationally. Kentucky is one of the four U.S. states with the highest tobacco use prevalence, and characterizing e-cigarette use, trends and policy opinions among Kentucky undergraduates may inform interventions. To characterize population-level differences in e-cigarette-related behaviors and policy opinions among undergraduates from 2014 to 2018, results from two cross-sectional surveys (2014 and 2018) from a public regional university in south-central Kentucky were analyzed. Students from randomly selected undergraduate general studies courses completed a 5-minute in-class survey. Data were obtained from 514 and 519 respondents in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Mean age did not differ (19.9 and 20.1 years; p = 0.41) nor did class rank (p = 0.30) by survey year. Chi-square analysis indicated previous 30-day e-cigarette use was higher in 2018 than 2014 (28% vs. 18%; p < 0.001), and current cigarette use was lower in 2018 than 2014 (13% vs. 25%; p < 0.001). When current smoking and recent e-cigarette use were combined as a use variable, there was no significant difference between 2018 (29%) and 2014 (30%). Fraternity/sorority affiliation, being under 22 years old, male gender, out-of-state residency, and having a smoking parent were associated with recent e-cigarette use in multivariable logit models. Support for the on-campus vaping prohibition was lower among 2018 respondents (68% approval) compared to 2014 respondents (74% approval), respectively (p = 0.022). Overall, these findings may inform policy, population-specific health communications, and future research.
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Odani S, O'Flaherty K, Veatch N, Tynan MA, Agaku IT. Attitudes toward smokeless tobacco use at all public sports venues among U.S. adults, 2016. Prev Med 2018; 111:397-401. [PMID: 29197531 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2017.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Policies prohibiting smokeless tobacco (SLT) use at sports venues have been enacted in California and nine U.S. cities. We measured opposition toward SLT use at all public sports venues and its correlates among U.S. adults. Data were from the 2016 SummerStyles, a web-based survey of U.S. adults aged ≥18years (n=4203). Weighted estimates of opposition ("strongly" or "somewhat") SLT use were computed overall and by selected characteristics. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses were performed to identify determinants of opposition toward SLT use overall and among current tobacco product users. Overall, 81.8% of U.S. adults opposed SLT use at all public sports venues. Opposition varied by tobacco product use status: 85.9%, 86.9% and 60.4% among never, former, and current tobacco product users, respectively. Among all adults, the likelihood of opposition was higher among females than males (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [APR]=1.05; 95%CI=1.01-1.08) and increased with every 10-year increase in age (APR=1.01; 95%CI=1.00-1.02). Likelihood was lower among persons with a high school diploma (APR=0.92; 95%CI=0.88-0.96) than those with college degree or higher; persons widowed/divorced/separated (APR=0.92; 95%CI=0.87-0.97) than those married; and current tobacco product users (APR=0.70; 95%CI=0.65-0.76) than never users. Among current tobacco product users, likelihood was lower among persons living in the Midwest (APR=0.81; 95%CI=0.66-0.98) and South (APR=0.78; 95%CI=0.65-0.94) than the Northeast. Most U.S. adults, including three-fifths of current tobacco product users, oppose SLT use at all public sports venues. Complete tobacco-free policies for sports venues that prohibit all forms of tobacco product use can help reduce the social acceptability of SLT use.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND This study sought to examine the relationship between tobacco-free policies at worksites to worksite demographics such as company size and geographic location. METHODS Worksites participating in a worksite wellness workshop were asked to complete a worksite wellness instrument, which provided an assessment of their wellness practices already in place in the worksite, including the degree to which tobacco-free policies were in place at the worksite. RESULTS At a bivariate level, those more likely to have tobacco-free policies included: urban employers (76.8% versus 50% rural employers, p = 0.0001); large employers (> = 250 employees) (74.3% versus 43.1% small employers (<50 employees), p = 0.0003); and schools (69.4%) and hospitals (61.5%) (versus 35.5%, agricultural/ manufacturing employers, p = 0.0125). At the multivariate level, rural employers (AOR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.23, 0.95) and small employers (AOR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.16, 0.71) had decreased odds, compared to their urban and large employer counterparts, of having tobacco-free policies. CONCLUSIONS Rural and smaller employers are less likely to have tobacco-free policies than their urban and large counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ablah
- University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 1010 North Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214 USA
| | - Frank Dong
- Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E 2nd Street, Pomona, CA 91766 USA
| | - Kurt Konda
- University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 1010 North Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214 USA
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