Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #103384

Grace X. Ma, PhD, Associate Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health, Director of Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, 215-204-5108, grace.ma@temple.edu, Carolyn Y. Fang, PhD, Division of Population Science,Fox Chase Cancer Center, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Temple University, 510 Township Line Road, Third Floor, Cheltenham, PA 19012, Jamil Toubbeh, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Public Health, Senior Researcher, Center for Asian Health, Temple University, 304A Vivacqua Hall, PO Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122, Yajia Lan, M D, Ph D, Professor, Huaxi School of Public Health, Sichuan University, 17, 3rd Section, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610044, China, Chengkai Zhai, PhD, Dean, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Dingjiaqiao Road 87, Nanjing, 210009, China, and Ning Zhao, PhD, Statistician, Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Suite 600 North, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Objective: Smoking contributes to four of the five leading causes of death in China and the US today (WHO, 2002; CDC, 2004). Despite public health efforts, not all groups of people are equally informed on the health risks of tobacco use. The aim of this study was to analyze the interaction between knowledge level and perceived risk, and smoking status among people of Chinese ethnicity in both the United States and in China.

Methods: This study employed a stratified-cluster sampling technique to identify the study sample and used a comparative cross-sectional design. A questionnaire was developed in English and translated into Chinese. 812 participants in China and 408 participants in the US (total = 1220 participants) received and completed the questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were used to analyze data.

Results: Findings provide comparison data on knowledge about health risks related to tobacco use and on individual's perceived risk for negative health consequences of smoking. Data on knowledge of second-hand smoking, cancer, respiratory diseases, and fetal and child health, as related to knowledge level and perceived risk, suggest a complex relationship between smoking status and knowledge and perceived risk.

Conclusion: The data collected through this investigation reveals that the relationship between perceived risk and knowledge level and smoking status is not linear in all populations. This cross-national investigation provides findings on factors that influence smoking behavior among Chinese in the US and China, which may be helpful in the development of future cessation programs for Chinese populations

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be familiar with the influence of knowledge level and perceived risk on smoking status among Chinese in the US and in China.

Keywords: Public Health Education and Health Promotion, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.