RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Support for smoke free policies among smokers and non-smokers in six cities in China
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP tc.2009.029850
DO 10.1136/tc.2009.029850
A1 Qiang Li
A1 Andrew Hyland
A1 Richard J O'Connor
A1 Guodong Zhao
A1 Lin Du
A1 Xun Li
A1 Geoffrey T Fong
YR 2009
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2009/08/13/tc.2009.029850.abstract
AB Objective:To examine levels of support for comprehensive smoke free policies in six large Chinese cities. Methods: Data from Wave 1 of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) China Survey (April-CAugust 2006) were analyzed. The ITC China Survey employed a multistage sampling design in Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Yinchuan (none of which have comprehensive smoke free policies in place). Face to face interviews were conducted with a total of 4,815 smokers and 1,270 non-smokers. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with support for comprehensive smoke free policies. Results: About 1 in 2 Chinese urban smokers and 4 in 5 non-smokers believed that secondhand smoke (SHS) causes lung cancer. The majority of respondents supported comprehensive smokefree policies in hospitals, schools, and public transport vehicles while support for smokefree workplaces, restaurants and bars was lower. Levels of support were generally comparable between smokers and non-smokers. Support for comprehensive smokefree policies was positively associated with knowledge about the harm of SHS. Respondents who worked in a smokefree worksite or who frequented smokefree indoor entertainment places were more likely to support comprehensive smoking restriction in bars and restaurants. Conclusion: Considerable support for smokefree policies exists in these six large cities in China. Greater public education about the dangers of SHS may further increase support. Experiencing the benefits of smokefree indoor entertainment places and/or workplaces increases support for these policies and suggests that some initial smokefree policy implementation may hasten the diffusion of these public health policies.