REGIONAL MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL ANTISMOKING CAMPAIGN AS AN ELEMENT OF THE POPULATION STRATEGY TO QUIT SMOKING

Abstract

Significance. Tobacco smoking is one of the most important problems of public health. It is quite obvious that the prevention of tobacco consumption needs a comprehensive and systematic implementation of a wide range of multi-level and intersectoral measures, the essence of which is to manage tobacco smoking as one of the risk factors of chronic non-communicable diseases at the population and individual levels. The implementors of those preventive measures should include both healthcare and state and public organizations, employers, and mass media. The purpose of the study is to analyze the population strategy to quit tobacco in the Ryazan region and its impact on smoking cessation. Material and methods. The study was performed using a survey, statistical and analytical methods based on the evaluation of preventive antismoking measures implemented in the Ryazan region in the period from 2014 to 2019 within the framework of the annual interdepartmental medical and educational campaign “Summer without Tobacco Smoke”. The study information base is the results of an anonymous questionnaire survey of 1,604 registered (according to the terms of the campaign) participants of the anti-tobacco campaign aged 18-64 years. Analysis of the dynamics in performance indicators of medical offices regarding smoking secession was based of their reports during the 6-year period under study. Comparisons of tobacco smoking prevalence in these years were based on results of the adult population surveys on tobacco consumption in the region (Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in the Russian Federation, as well as data of the Federal State Statistics Service. Results The annual anti-tobacco campaign “Summer without Tobacco Smoke” complies with the basic principles of highly effective public programs: duration (carried out for more than 5 years), focus on a specific risk factor (smoking) and regularity of such campaigns. The antismoking campaign forms flows of people who want to get rid of smoking on their own or through medical assistance in medical offices. Systematic nature of antismoking campaigns as a form of population-based tobacco smoking prevention, contributed to the formation of positive trends in reducing prevalence of tobacco consumption. Thus, in the period from 2014 to 2019, there was a 44.6% gradual decrease in the prevalence of tobacco smoking in the Ryazan region (by 12.2% among males and 37.6% among females). Conclusion. The obtained results evidence with confidence that the anti-tobacco campaign both forms groups of people who are aware of smoking-related hazards and of methods of smoking secession, and increases motivation for a healthy lifestyle, as well as positively affects utilization of medical offices for smoking secession. Scope of application. The study results can be useful to regional authorities in public health, as well as heads of centers of public health and medical prevention, state medical organizations, responsible executors in planning and implementing regional programs aimed at preventing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and reducing tobacco consumption.