Effect of nationwide tobacco control policies on smoking cessation in high and low educated groups in 18 European countries

• DOI: 10.1136/tc.2007.024265
• Publication Date: 2008-05-16T00:48:25Z
• Authors: M M Schaap; A E Kunst; M Leinsalu; E Regidor; O Ekholm; D Dzurova; U Helmert; J Klumbiene; P Santana; J P Mackenbach
• Keywords: Smoking prevention

Background: Recently a scale was introduced to quantify the implementation of tobacco control policies at country level. Our study used this examine potential impact these on quit ratios in European countries. Special attention given smoking cessation among lower educational groups. Methods: Cross-sectional data were derived from national health surveys 18 In analyses we distinguished between country, sex, two age groups (25–39 and 40–59 years) Age-standardised calculated as total former-smokers divided by ever-smokers. regression explored correlation score Tobacco Control Scale (TCS). Results: Quit especially high (>45%) Sweden, England, The Netherlands, Belgium France relatively low (<30%) Lithuania Latvia. Higher educated smokers more likely have than all age-sex National positively associated with association TCS did not show consistent differences education. Of which is constructed, price showed strongest ratios, followed an advertising ban. Conclusion: Countries developed higher countries less policies. High benefit about equally nationwide