Abstract
Background:
Smoking is a public health threat and a leading cause of premature death. Eight million individuals die around the world yearly. In order to minimize tobacco consumption, tobacco control programs established to change behaviors. The aim of these programs is to protect non- smokers in society and reduce prevalence. The initiatives are done by the country such as plain packaging, taxation, health messaging, and pictorial warning are important measures. All of these initiatives are expected to help smokers quit; however, there are lack of studies to support this assumption in the country.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study collected a sample of 793 adult Saudi smokers and former smokers. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to determine the effects of tobacco control initiatives on smokers in Saudi Arabia.
Results:
After applying the new form of plain packaging, 15.6% of participants felt they were smoking the usual tobacco yet 29.8% completely disagreed. Moreover, 43% of the participants did not fully agree that the quality of tobacco is good but 7.1% completely agreed. In addition, 35.7% of participants were aware of the dangers of tobacco due to the effectiveness of health warnings yet 16.3% completely disagreed. On the other hand, regarding the price of pack, 66.4% found the pack expensive/very expensive yet 5.8% found it cheap/very cheap. In addition, 29.5% did not have intentions to quit smoking due to increasing of the price of pack yet 29.1% had no intention to quit smoking.
Conclusions:
The effects of tobacco control initiatives on the smoking behavior of Saudi smokers were effective in reducing tobacco consumption. The most effective approach in reducing tobacco consumption and increased the smokers’ intent to quit smoking was taxation. In addition, plain packaging which has been effective worldwide, turned out to be also effective approach in Saudi Arabia. In our opinion, in the near future we can reduce the number of cigarettes in a pack as an approach to tobacco control.
Table 1
After applying the new form of plain packaging, I feel that I smoked the usual Tobacco.Completely disagree=1Slightly disagree=2Neither agree nor disagree=3Completely agree=5Missing
29.8%14.6%23.1%15.6% 16.9%
After applying the new form of plain packaging, The Tobacco tastes good.Completely disagree=1Slightly disagree=2Neither agree nor disagree=3Completely agree=5Missing
35.6%16.3%22.1%8.7%17.4%
After applying the new form of plain packaging, I am aware of the dangers of Tobacco due to the effectiveness of Health warnings.Completely disagree=1Slightly disagree=2Neither agree nor disagree=3Completely agree=5Missing
16.3%8.1%22.3%35.7%17.7%
What is your opinion regarding the price of pack of cigarette?Very cheap=1Cheap=2Average=3Expensive=4Very expensive=5Missing
2.9%2.9%11.9%24.2%42.2%15.9%
Does increasing the pack price will affect your intention to quit?No=0Yes=1I don’t know=2Missing
29.5%29.1%24.2%17.2%
Table 2
Variable
Smoker
Age
Min=(9) Max=(60)Mean=27.84291188SD= 9.105356491
GenderMale Female
29.870.2
Marital status Single Married Divorced Missing
65.7%31.8%1.9%0.6%
Occupational status Have a job Do not have a job Student Missing
47.8% 11.1%40.4%0.8%
IncomeLowMiddle HighVery high Missing
21.6%66.0% 10.3%1.5%0.6%
The highest educational degree Less than high school High school Diploma Bachelor Master/ Medical registrar PhD/ Medical consultant Missing
1.4%39.3%14.8%40.7%2.0%1.1%0.6%
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