Is providing knowledge about tobacco-related health hazards effective in comparison to other tobacco control measures? Findings from Ukraine

<p>Is providing knowledge about tobacco-related<br>health hazards effective in comparison<br>to other tobacco control measures?<br>Findings from Ukraine<br>T. Andreeva,<br>MD, PhD, School of Public Health, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy<br>Ya. Gerashchenko,<br>MPH, Graduate of the School of Public Health, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy<br>Abstract: Background: Awareness campaigns are considered to be among effective means in addressing<br>tobacco use, though less effective than tax/price increases, smoke-free policies, and<br>advertising ban measures. We aimed to estimate whether a higher knowledge about tobaccorelated<br>harm was associated with the intention to quit smoking in Ukraine at a baseline level<br>in 2005, when no tobacco control legislation was yet adopted.<br>M ethods: The data from a cross-sectional survey of the Ukrainian population aged 15 and<br>over, conducted in June 2005, was used. Of 2,239 collected questionnaires a sub-sample of 787<br>smokers<br>was analyzed.<br>O utcome measure was the expressed willingness to quit smoking. The determinants were<br>statements<br>regarding tobacco-related knowledge or wide spread myths. SPSS 15.0 was used<br>for the binary logistic regression analysis.<br>R esults: The level of knowledge was higher in more educated respondents, women, and in<br>those living in the Eastern region of Ukraine. The willingness to quit was higher in younger<br>age groups, men, those married, people with a low level of material welfare, and in occasional<br>smokers. Respondents willing to quit gave more correct knowledge answers; however, those<br>were mostly about linking smoking to particular diseases, while pure knowledge was not<br>associated with the intent to quit.<br>C onclusions: Many smoking-and-health statements in smokers are rather proxies for willingness<br>to quit than real determinants of the intention to quit. Implications: smoking-andhealth<br>information campaigns are not a cost-effective tobacco control measure in a country<br>with limited resources.<br>Keywords: tobacco, Ukraine, awareness, intention to quit smoking, willingness to quit.