Аннотация:
Background. The adoption of the Federal Law No. 15-FZ "On protecting the health of citizens from the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke and the consequences of tobacco consumption" (hereinafter referred to as the Law) in 2013 led to a subsequent significant decrease in the prevalence of tobacco consumption. The incidence of non-communicable diseases, associated with tobacco use, has decreased also since 2014. To maintain the positive dynamics achieved in the first years after the adoption of the Law, it is necessary to constantly raise the awareness of the population about the measures of the Law, evaluate their effectiveness and introduce measures that enhance their effect. For this objectives, constant monitoring of the situation should be organized, including obtaining information from citizens about their awareness and attitude to the activities carried out within the framework of the law. The purpose of this study is to develop an awareness assessment tool and study, on its basis, the public’s awareness of the dangers of tobacco consumption and tobacco control measures, as well as the public’s opinion on the effectiveness of anti-tobacco measures being introduced in the Russian Federation and their further expansion.
Methods. Internet survey in 2019 and 2020 were used to analyze the level of awareness of measures aimed at reducing the prevalence of tobacco consumption in the Russian Federation. Based on the objectives of the study, we developed and validated a questionnaire containing 6 sections: socio-demographic block, awareness of limiting the consumption of tobacco products, attitude to the established bans on the consumption of tobacco products, anti-tobacco advertising, liability for violation of anti-tobacco legislation, rules for the circulation of products containing nicotine and tobacco. Frequencies of responses to the questionnaire were calculated in different age groups, among men and women, among smokers and nonsmokers. A statistically significant difference between the groups was confirmed by a contingency table analysis using the χ2 test.
Results. The 2019 survey was attended by 3,181 respondents, among whom there were 36% of women and 64% of men from 80 regions of the Russian Federation. 1282 respondents took part in the 2020 survey, among whom there were 65.1% of women and 34.9% of men from 73 regions of the Russian Federation. Among the respondents who took part in the surveys, a decrease in the level of consumption of tobacco products in 2020 compared to 2019 was revealed (33.4% in 2019, 27.6% in 2020). Among smokers, 54% of respondents indicated a ban on selling tobacco to minors as the most effective measure, 46% – a ban on smoking in public catering, 42% – a ban on tobacco advertising. About 30% of respondents who smoked noticed the information about health care to quit tobacco, as well as a ban on smoking at work and other public places and an increase in the price of tobacco, as effective measures. More than 65% of the respondents who have never smoked and who quit smoking noted the ban on tobacco smoking in public catering places as an effective measure. Also, more than 50% of the respondents in this group noted a ban on tobacco advertising and a ban on smoking in workplaces. In general, for each measure, the proportion of respondents who smoked who rated them as effective was significantly lower than among those who never smoked and who quit smoking. In 2020, compared to 2019, the awareness of respondents about the dangers of tobacco use increased due to an increase in the awareness of non-smokers, while the share of respondents who did not notice information about the dangers of tobacco use and assistance in quitting tobacco increased (23.5% and 18.8%, respectively). In 2019 (47.5%) and in 2020 (43.3%), the main source of information on the dangers of tobacco consumption and smoking cessation assistance, for both smokers and non-smokers, as well as men and women, there were inscriptions on cigarette packs.
Conclusions. The study revealed differences in attitudes of tobacco control measures among different groups of the population. Significantly fewer smokers compared to nonsmokers supported measures and saw anti-tobacco information, fewer men compared to women, as well. adolescents aged 18 and under compared to older individuals. Basically, the respondents assessed the measures taking into account their own attitude to the use of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, as well as experience in quitting their use. To further maintain awareness at a high level, it is necessary to constantly expand the sources of information and increase their availability, as well as take into account the focus groups for which the information is intended. The questionnaire and the survey methodology developed by us allow to obtain data on new trends in indicators in the indicated groups quickly.
Ключевые слова:
tobacco, tobacco control, state policy on tobacco control, tobacco consumption, nicotine-containing products, prevalence, consumption, knowledge about the dangers of tobacco, awareness of anti-tobacco measures, Russian Federation.