Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19: A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China
Introduction China has more than 300 million current smokers. There is a controversy over smokers’ risk of COVID-19 infection. Smoking is a risk factor for COVID-19 disease progression, and the outbreak of COVID-19 may change people’s smoking behaviors. This study assessed people’s attitudes towards...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Attitudes-towards-smoking-and-COVID-19-and-changes-in-nsmoking-behaviors-before-and,144242,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1818655208717156352 |
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| author | Yanhui Liao Jinsong Tang Anne C.K. Quah Geoffrey T. Fong Ann McNeill |
| author_facet | Yanhui Liao Jinsong Tang Anne C.K. Quah Geoffrey T. Fong Ann McNeill |
| author_sort | Yanhui Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
China has more than 300 million current smokers. There is a
controversy over smokers’ risk of COVID-19 infection. Smoking is a risk factor
for COVID-19 disease progression, and the outbreak of COVID-19 may change
people’s smoking behaviors. This study assessed people’s attitudes towards
‘smoking and COVID-19’ and changes of smoking behaviors before and after
the outbreak of COVID-19.
Material and Methods
A cross-sectional web survey of 11009 adults in China was conducted
between 7 May and 3 August 2020. Attitudes towards ‘smoking and COVID-19’
were compared among non-smokers (n=8837), ex-smokers (n=399) and current
smokers (n=1773), and changes in smoking behaviors before and after the
outbreak of COVID-19 were assessed among current smokers.
Results
Fewer current smokers (26.2%) agreed with the statement that ‘Current
smokers are more likely than ex-smokers or non-smokers to contract COVID-19’
compared with non-smokers (53%) or ex-smokers (41.4%); fewer current smokers
(55.9%) agreed with the statement ‘If contracted, current smokers are more likely
than ex-smokers or non-smokers to risk disease progression’ compared with nonsmokers
(75.5%) or ex-smokers (68.7%). There were no changes in cigarettes
smoked per day (mean ± SD: 13.3 ± 9.55 vs 13.4 ± 9.69, p=0.414), percentage
of daily smokers (70.8% vs 71.1%, p=0.882) and percentage of smokers with
motivation to quit (intend to quit within the next 6 months, 9.4% vs 10.9%,
p=0.148) before and after the outbreak of COVID-19.
Conclusions
The survey found that fewer current smokers agreed that smoking is
a risk-factor for COVID-19 compared with non-smokers or ex-smokers. Among
current smokers, there were no changes in their cigarette consumption and
motivation to quit before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. More efforts are
needed to educate smokers about the health risks of smoking, as well as efforts
to promote their motivation to quit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T03:06:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7f2adc991204b6c997f2bb652467a34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T03:06:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7f2adc991204b6c997f2bb652467a342022-12-21T22:05:57ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252022-02-0120February1510.18332/tid/144242144242Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19: A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in ChinaYanhui Liao0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4735-3252Jinsong Tang1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0805-3786Anne C.K. Quah2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5303-8884Geoffrey T. Fong3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9098-6472Ann McNeill4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6223-4000Department of Psychiatry, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Psychiatry, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, CanadaDepartment of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United KingdomIntroduction China has more than 300 million current smokers. There is a controversy over smokers’ risk of COVID-19 infection. Smoking is a risk factor for COVID-19 disease progression, and the outbreak of COVID-19 may change people’s smoking behaviors. This study assessed people’s attitudes towards ‘smoking and COVID-19’ and changes of smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Material and Methods A cross-sectional web survey of 11009 adults in China was conducted between 7 May and 3 August 2020. Attitudes towards ‘smoking and COVID-19’ were compared among non-smokers (n=8837), ex-smokers (n=399) and current smokers (n=1773), and changes in smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 were assessed among current smokers. Results Fewer current smokers (26.2%) agreed with the statement that ‘Current smokers are more likely than ex-smokers or non-smokers to contract COVID-19’ compared with non-smokers (53%) or ex-smokers (41.4%); fewer current smokers (55.9%) agreed with the statement ‘If contracted, current smokers are more likely than ex-smokers or non-smokers to risk disease progression’ compared with nonsmokers (75.5%) or ex-smokers (68.7%). There were no changes in cigarettes smoked per day (mean ± SD: 13.3 ± 9.55 vs 13.4 ± 9.69, p=0.414), percentage of daily smokers (70.8% vs 71.1%, p=0.882) and percentage of smokers with motivation to quit (intend to quit within the next 6 months, 9.4% vs 10.9%, p=0.148) before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. Conclusions The survey found that fewer current smokers agreed that smoking is a risk-factor for COVID-19 compared with non-smokers or ex-smokers. Among current smokers, there were no changes in their cigarette consumption and motivation to quit before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. More efforts are needed to educate smokers about the health risks of smoking, as well as efforts to promote their motivation to quit.http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Attitudes-towards-smoking-and-COVID-19-and-changes-in-nsmoking-behaviors-before-and,144242,0,2.htmlsmokersnon-smokerssmoking behaviorsattitudescovid-19 |
| spellingShingle | Yanhui Liao Jinsong Tang Anne C.K. Quah Geoffrey T. Fong Ann McNeill Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19: A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China Tobacco Induced Diseases smokers non-smokers smoking behaviors attitudes covid-19 |
| title | Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in
smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19:
A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China |
| title_full | Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in
smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19:
A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in
smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19:
A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in
smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19:
A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China |
| title_short | Attitudes towards smoking and COVID-19, and changes in
smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of COVID-19:
A nationwide cross-sectional survey study in China |
| title_sort | attitudes towards smoking and covid 19 and changes in smoking behaviors before and after the outbreak of covid 19 a nationwide cross sectional survey study in china |
| topic | smokers non-smokers smoking behaviors attitudes covid-19 |
| url | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Attitudes-towards-smoking-and-COVID-19-and-changes-in-nsmoking-behaviors-before-and,144242,0,2.html |
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