Communication of alcohol and smoking lifestyle advice to the gastroenterological patient

The associations between the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body and smoking behavior change among Saudi smokers

INTRODUCTION

Recently, Saudi Arabia has extensively reformed its tobacco control policies and extended its smoking cessation services. A public outrage on social media among smokers was witnessed, especially after the implementation of plain cigarette packaging, which might have discredited the significant efforts of tobacco treatment services and tobacco control policies. However, it is not known how the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body among Saudi smokers might affect their smoking behavior.

METHODS

Saudi tobacco smokers (n=511) were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. A cross-sectional survey was conducted comprising questions related to the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body (modified Food and Drug Administration Tobacco Credibility Scale), quit attempts, use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and motivation to change smoking behavior in the future. Logistic and linear regression models were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

The public interest subscale of the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body, was positively associated with confidence in changing smoking behavior (β=0.204; 95% CI: 0.078-0.713; t=2.449, p=0.015) and readiness to change smoking behavior (β=0.237; 95% CI: 0.127-0.727; t=2.802, p=0.005). Moreover, the subscale of expertise was positively associated with confidence in changing smoking behavior (β=0.190; 95% CI: 0.006-0.697; t=1.999, p=0.046) and readiness to change smoking behavior (β=0.225; 95% CI: 0.063-0.710; t=2.352, p=0.019). However, public interest in the credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body was negatively associated with NRT use among smokers who tried to quit (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=0.691; 95% CI: 0.526-0.909). The credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body, however, was not associated with the last month's or ever quit attempts.

CONCLUSIONS

The credibility of the tobacco control regulatory body was positively associated with motivation to change smoking behavior but negatively associated with NRT use. Optimizing communication tools with the public is a potential avenue for improving smoking treatment and prevention in Saudi Arabia.

Smokers’ reports on receiving a doctor’s advice to quit smoking; receiving the advice is more prevalent among smokers with Crohn’s Disease relative to smokers with Ulcerative Colitis

Receiving a doctor’s advice to quit smoking is an important predictor for improving smokers’ intentions to quit smoking and successful smoking cessation. We examined reports of smokers with Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) regarding receiving a doctor’s advice to quit smoking in the past 12 months, and evaluated the differences in the rates of receiving the advice between the CD and UC patients. The data were retrospectively reported by CD and UC patients (n = 453) who self-identified as current smokers in online assessments conducted by IBD Partners in the period from 2011 to 2014 in the USA. Statistical methods included chi-square tests and a multiple logistic regression model for the logit of the probability of receiving the advice as a function of patient’s characteristics and assessment year. Overall, about 77% of smokers reported receiving a doctor’s advice to quit smoking. The percentage was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among smokers with CD (80%) than it was among smokers with UC (63%). While the specific differences by CD/UC depended on smoking initiation age, the overall effect of disease type on the odds of receiving the advice remained significant: the odds of receiving the advice were higher for smokers with CD relative to smokers with UC (OR = 3.6, p < 0.001). Although the majority of CD and UC patients report receiving a doctor’s advice to quit smoking, the encountered difference associated with the disease type is concerning. Because long-term smoking increases cancer and mortality risks, doctors should address smoking cessation with all patients who smoke.