Impact of an Exhibit of Tobacco Control on Visitors in Taiwan

Purpose

An adolescent targeted tobacco control exhibit was cohosted by the Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotion and National Science and Technology Museum between July 2006 and August 2007. The exhibit attracted more than 250,000 visitors. This study aimed to understand the visitors' awareness of tobacco hazards and attitude of advising families or friends not to smoke and accept smoking cessation after exhibit. In addition, relations among the visitors' demographic characters, awareness of tobacco hazards, attitude against smoking and recommending other people to visit the exhibit was analyzed.

Method and Material

Some 3000 visitors were chosen as samples to fill out a questionnaire (13 items). Chi-square test and Logistic Regression were used to analyze the data.

Results

Among those surveyed, 10.6% were current smokers. 98.3% of them said they understood more about tobacco hazards after the exhibit. Some 92% would tell their families and friends about tobacco hazards, and advise them not to smoke. However, only 77% will avoid second-hand smoking by directly telling others not to smoke before them. Besides, more than 91% would recommend their family members, friends and teachers to visit the exhibit. Analytic study of 13 variables, including visitors' demographic characters and their awareness, attitude, showed significant difference from recommending other people to visit the exhibit (P<0.05). In addition, female (OR=1.503) those with correct awareness of tobacco hazards (OR=1.903) and those with positive attitude against smoking (OR=4.214) were more likely to recommend other people to visit the exhibit.