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http://dx.doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.5.2315

Use of Smoke-less Tobacco Amongst the Staff of Tertiary Care Hospitals in the Largest City of Pakistan  

Valliani, Arif (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Ahmed, Bilawal (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Nanji, Kashmira (Aga Khan University)
Valliani, Salimah (Aga Khan University)
Zulfiqar, Beenish (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Fakih, Misbah (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Mehdi, Mehwish (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Khan, Anam (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Sheikh, Sana Arshad (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Fatima, Nida (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Ahmad, Sobia (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Farah, Fariya (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Saleem, Shaheera (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Ather, Sana (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Majid, Syed Khubaib (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Hashmi, Syed Salman (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Arjan, Sunil (Dow University of Health Sciences)
Publication Information
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention / v.13, no.5, 2012 , pp. 2315-2317 More about this Journal
Abstract
Background: Use of smoke-less tobacco (SLT) is very common in South and South-East Asian countries. It is significantly associated with various types of cancers. The objectives of this study were to assess the proportion of hospital staff that use SLT, and to identify the factors associated with its use and their practices. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 560 staff of two tertiary care hospitals were interviewed in the year 2009. Nurses, ward boys and technicians were counted as a paramedic staff while drivers, peons, security guards and housekeeping staff were labeled as non-paramedic staff. SLT use was considered as usage of any of the following: betel quid (paan) with or without tobacco, betel nuts with or without tobacco (gutkha) and snuff (naswar). Results: About half (48.6%) of the hospital staff were using at least one type of SLT. Factors found to be statistically significant with SLT were being a male (OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.8-3.7); having no/fewer years of education (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.2-2.4) and working as non-paramedic staff (OR=2.6; 95% CI=1.8-3.8). Majority of SLT users were using it on regular basis, for > 5 years and keeping the tobacco products in the oral cavity for >30 minutes. About half of the users started due to peer pressure and had tried to quit this habit but failed. Conclusion: In this study, about half of the study participants were using SLT in different forms. We suggest educational and behavioral interventions for control of SLT usage.
Keywords
Smokeless tobacco; hospital staff; Pakistan;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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