The changes in smoking related behaviours, second hand smoke and smoking cessation after the smoking ban in İzmir

The changes in smoking related behaviours, second hand smoke and smoking cessation after the smoking ban in IzmirAIM: The aim of the study is to determine the views about law, the change of second hand smoke quantity, the variation of smoking cessation after and before the law, people?s smoking related behaviours and the factors associated with all these changes after the publishment of law which prohibits use of tobacco products in closed public areas.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Questionnaire including 47 questions was performed to 600 people, whose house adresses were selected by Turkey Statistics Instutition to present the overall Izmir city population. SPSS packet programme used for analyses.RESULTS: 53,7% of participants were female and 46.3% was male; the mean age was 41,5±15,6. 232 were smoking (39%), 257 were never smoked (42%) and 111 quited smoking (19%). Men were smoking more than women (p=0.0001). Men and participants with higher nicotine dependence levels started smoking at early ages (p=0.033 and 0.0001 respectively). Tobacco products except cigarette were mostly used by men, people younger than the age of 35 and with high educational level; water pipe was the most popular of this gropu. The smoke cessation percentage of women was statistically significantly higher than men (p=0.006). 70.7% of active smokers were thinking about quitting, but only 12,8% of participants who tried to quit had admitted cessation therapy. Methods which had been proved scientificly were chosen with the percantage of 53.8%. 93.9% of active smokers were using cigarette at homes. Non-smokers were exposed to second hand smoke at homes; 34.1%, at vehicles:14,9%, at work places:14,4%. Participants having children younger than 18 age were using tobacco products at home with the percantage of 42.6%. 98% of all participants were aware of the law and 91.5% of them were supporting it. The law support of women (95,3%) was statistically significantly higher than men (88.5%) (p=0.002). 42% of participants who succeeded in quitting had managed it after the ban; and 36,6% of active smokers started to think about quitting also after law in force. The state of quitting and reducing smoking was higher in women and people with low NDL. Restriction of areas, rise of prices and effects of second hand smoke were the most popular reasons of reducing or quitting smoking after the law. 26% of active smokers reduced the number of cigarettes per day after the law. The number of cigarettes smoking in one day was reduced by 3.19 cigarettes per day. The frequency of going to closed public areas did not change in the big part of participants 62,2(%); it was increased in 27% and decreased in 10,8% of participants. The rate of violation of the ban was 32,3% which was higher in men and people with high NDL. Only 21,3% of violators were warned. 96,4% of supporters of the law was finding law successful and sufficient. But most participants dedicated that improvements about law should be performed.CONCLUSION: The frequency of smoking was higher than Turkey?s avarage in İzmir. The mean age of starting smoking was below the age of 18. Use of tobacco products except cigarette may be an emerging problem particularly in youngers. A big amount of participants thinks about quitting, and the law is thought to have important effect on this decision. They also want medical help about quitting. The ban seems to have more effects in women; the number of cigarette per day was reduced with a statistically significant value. Second hand smoke has reduced mostly in public areas with ban, but law must be enlarged to prevent SHS at private areas such as houses, vehicles, workplaces. More improvements about law must be performed. As a result; the ban encouraged smokers to quit and reduced SHS at public areas. We believe that paying more attention for law sanction and extending the borders of law and reviewing the ban, will make our country more smoke free from now.