Smokers’ and Nonsmokers’ Receptivity to Smoke-Free Policies and Pro- and Anti-Policy Messaging in Armenia and Georgia

Abstract

Garnering support for smoke-free policies is critical for their successful adoption, particularly in countries with high smoking prevalence, such as Armenia and Georgia. In 2018, we surveyed 1456 residents (ages 18–64) of 28 cities in Armenia (n = 705) and Georgia (n = 751). We examined support for cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)/heated tobacco product (HTP) smoke-free policies in various locations and persuasiveness of pro- and anti-policy messaging. Participants were an average age of 43.35, 60.5% female, and 27.3% current smokers. Nonsmokers versus smokers indicated greater policy support for cigarette and ENDS/HTP and greater persuasiveness of pro-policy messaging. Armenians versus Georgians generally perceived pro- and anti-policy messaging more persuasive. In multilevel linear regression, sociodemographics (e.g., female) and tobacco use characteristics (e.g., smoking less frequently, higher quitting importance) correlated with more policy support. Greatest policy support was for healthcare, religious, government, and workplace settings; public transport; schools; and vehicles carrying children. Least policy support was for bar/restaurant outdoor areas. The most compelling pro-policy message focused on the right to clean air; the most compelling anti-policy message focused on using nonsmoking sections. Specific settings may present challenges for advancing smoke-free policies. Messaging focusing on individual rights to clean air and health may garner support.

Global prevalence of heated tobacco product use, 2015–22: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Figure 3 shows the 41 countries and areas from WPR ( n = 4) [56–60, 62–65, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74], EUR ( n = 35) [32–38, 40, 42–45] and AMR ( n = 2) [34, 47, 49–51, 53–55], for which prevalence of current HTP use in the general population was reported with ages 9 years and older included in the analyses. The pooled current use prevalence estimate across all available countries and areas was 1.53% (95% CI = 1.22, 1.87) ( I 2 = 99%).…”

“…Five additional studies that met inclusion criteria were identified from e-mail alerts and the grey literature search. A total of 45 included studies reported on 38 national surveys, covering four regions from 42 countries and areas: 15 studies from EUR [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] (Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Greece, Hungry, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine), 11 studies from AMR [34,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] (Canada and the US), 19 studies from the WPR [56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74] (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) and one study from AFR…”

“…Figure 2 shows the 42 countries and areas from WPR (n = 4) [56,57,61,62,64,65,67,69,71,72], EUR (n = 37) [33,[35][36][37][38][39][40][42][43][44][45], AMR (n = 1) [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55] and AFR (n = 1) [75] for which life-time HTP use in the general population was measured, with ages 9 years and older included in the studies. The pooled estimate across all the available countries and ages was 4.87% (95% CI = 4.16, 5.63; I 2 = 100%).…”

Psychosocial Factors, Smoke-Free Restrictions, and Media Exposure in Relation to Smoking-Related Attitudes and Behaviors among Adults in Armenia and Georgia

“…This study used a matched-pairs community-randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of local coalitions in promoting smoke-free air among 28 communities in Armenia and Georgia (matched and randomized by key characteristics, e.g., population). The ongoing parent study is more fully described elsewhere [27,28].…”

“…Among all 28 intervention and control communities, population-level surveys (i.e., of community members) were conducted before the launch of the coalition member training (October-November 2018) [28] and will then be conducted at the culmination of coalition activity. Current analyses focused on baseline population-level surveys conducted in October-November 2018.…”