IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 2244: Tobacco Health Risk Awareness among Socially Disadvantaged People —A Crucial Tool for Smoking Cessation

IJERPH, Vol. 15, Pages 2244: Tobacco Health Risk Awareness among Socially Disadvantaged People—A Crucial Tool for Smoking Cessation International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph15102244 Authors: Marek Milcarz Kinga Polanska Leokadia Bak-Romaniszyn Dorota Kaleta The goal of this cross-sectional survey was to assess the level of knowledge on harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and active smoking among socially-disadvantaged people in Poland. The study was conducted among 1817 respondents aged 18–59 years, who used aid services from local social care institutions in Piotrkowski district. Majority of the participants were aware of the fact that smoking may cause serious diseases and lung cancer (92%). However, those percentages were lower for awareness of ETS and health risk (69.4%) and for awareness of smoking/ETS-associated risk of stroke and heart attack (57%, 68%). The male respondents and smokers had much higher odds of lacking knowledge that smoking causes serious diseases and lung cancer compared to the females (OR = 1.47 and OR = 1.86; p < 0.05) and non-smokers (OR = 2.35 and OR = 2.31; p < 0.001). In addition, those with temporary jobs and the unemployed had a higher risk of lack of knowledge on smoking and lung cancer risk (OR = 2.14 and OR = 1.66; p < 0.05) as well as ETS and the risk of stroke (OR = 1.52 and OR = 1.51; p < 0.05) a...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research