The Effect of Working in a Smoke-Free Workplace on use of Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to evaluate whether smokeless tobacco (Maras powder) use increased among smokers working at smoke-free workplaces or not. MATERIAL AND METHODS:In Kahramanmaraş city, 242 male workers who were current or former smokers, working at strictly smokefree workplaces were included in this study. A total of 21 questions, including the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, were asked. RESULTS:All the participants were male with a mean age of 29.33±6.66 years, and the age range was 17-55 years. Current smokers were 90 (37.2%) and former smokers were 152 (62.8%). Former smokers were asked the reason why they quit smoking; the predominant reasons were the health hazards of smoking and the financial burden of cigarettes. The quitting rate was significantly higher among married participants (p=0.023). Maras powder users were 184 (76%), users who never smoked were 54 (22.3%), and former users were 4 (1.7%). We asked the Maras powder users if they had been using it before the smoking bans, and 96 workers (51.1%) answered "no." The question "Did the use of Maras powder increase with smoking bans"? was asked, and 118 workers (62.8%) answered "yes." The level of education among Maras powder users was significantly lower than non-users (p=0.001). CONCLUSION:Working in smoke-free workplaces is associated with increased rates of quitting smoking and also with increased use of Maras powder, a local form of oral smokeless tobacco. KEYWORDS:Smoke-free workplace, Maras powder, smokeless tobacco INTRODUCTIONTobacco is a plant that is considered to originate in the territory of North and South Americas [1]. The most common form of tobacco consumption in general is smoking, which is the most important cause of preventable deaths worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year worldwide, about 6 million people (9% of all deaths) die as a result of smoking-related diseases: in high-income countries, 18% of all deaths are associated with tobacco use; in medium-income countries, 11%; and in low-income countries, 4% [2].Tobacco control has been undertaken with the support of international policies. WHO published the "Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)" in 2003, which plays an important role in these regulations and is a directory guide for tobacco control in all countries [3]. This protocol agreement was approved by the Turkish Parliament and enforced in 2004. The WHO's MPOWER policy measures were published in 2008. In the same year, Turkey adapted the necessary law to combat smoking [4,5]. With this law, smoking in enclosed areas has been prohibited from 19 July 2009 and has been implemented in totality. In recent years, while smoking is decreasing in many developed countries, it is increasing in many low-and middle-income countries. This increase in tobacco use will cause an increase in deaths attributable to tobacco use in these countries [6,7].There are many preparations for tobacco use that can be classified into two types: smoking tobacco and smokeless tobacco. Nargh...

Dumansız Tütünün Ön Segment Parametreleri Üzerindeki Akut ve Kronik Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi

“…Similarly, a statistical difference was found between working group and control group in terms of PD.As these were the first data evaluating PD in respect of ST, to be able to obtain some idea, they were compared with the results of studies conducted with cigarette smokers. Nevertheless, even if the smoke and toxic effects of cigarettes are discounted, the nicotine content of ST is approximately 6-10 fold higher than that of cigarettes (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7).…”

“…The nicotine concentration in this tobacco plant is approximately 6-10 fold higher than that of the tobacco used in cigarette production. By wetting the mixture, the wetness ratio is increased to increase absorption from the oral mucosa (4)(5)(6). The mixture is used by placing a small amount (up to 1 gr) inside the mouth between the gums and the lower or upper labial mucosa, or sometimes below the tongue (6,7).…”

The association of workplace smoke-free policies on individual smoking and quitting-related behaviours

“…For example, a systematic review in the British Medical Journal showed that smoke­free workplaces are associated with reductions in the prevalence of smoking of 3.8% and 3.1 fewer cigarettes smoked per day per continuing smoker [ 12 ]. Kahraman et al found that working in SF workplaces was associated with increased rates of quitting smoking and with increased use of Maras powder, which is a local form of oral smokeless tobacco in Turkey [ 13 ].…”