206507 Tobacco cessation services, knowledge of effects of tobacco use and second hand smoke policy enforcement: What is the linkage?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Olugbemiga Tanilepada Ekundayo, MD, MPH, DrPH , Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Vincent Mendy, MPH , Office of Health Disparity Elimination, MS State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Sridevi Alla, MBBS , STD/HIV Bureau, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Velesha P. Williams, MS , Mississippi Urban Research Center, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Mario J. Azevedo, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Purpose

Knowledge of effects of tobacco smoke and second hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ets) has been associated with presence of resources that support health services and health education to increase community awareness and encourage protective behavior. However it is not clear whether these linkage between knowledge of ets effects and presence of support resources for services have any relationship with awareness of legislation/policy enforcement. We examine the relationships of insurance coverage for smoking cessation services or tobacco prevention and knowledge of effects of second hand smoke with knowledge of tobacco policy enforcement in Hinds County, Mississippi.

Methods

Stratified convenience sampling of 500 participants in five districts of Hinds County was performed and questionnaires completed. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive analyses explored distribution and linear regression was used to analyze the relationships of dependent and independent variables.

Results

343 participants (68.6%) completed questionnaires of whom 328 (95.6%) were qualified by age. Age ranged from 18 through 83 years, 93 (28.4%) were male. There was no significant association between knowledge of ets and perception of ets policy enforcement (R2=0.024, F-value=0.820, ñ-value=0.598). However, there was significant association between insurance coverage for smoking services and ets policy enforcement in Hinds County, Mississippi (R2=0.058, F-value=9.086, ñ-value=0.000). The association of smoking cessation services with enforcement of tobacco control policies may be of significant importance as an added consideration in the work to reduce ets, especially for the most vulnerable population, the minors.

Learning Objectives:
1. List some health effects of ets. 2. Describe the steps for stratified convenience sampling 3. Describe the relationships between relationships of insurance coverage for smoking cessation services or tobacco prevention and knowledge of effects of second hand smoke with knowledge of tobacco policy enforcement

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Smoking

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Principal Investigator (4 years tobacco research)
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Regional tobacco control issues
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs