title: Knowledge about tobacco and attitudes toward tobacco control: how different are smokers and nonsmokers?
abstract: Using data from a 1996 random-digit-dialing computer-assisted telephone survey of Ontario adults, 424 smokers and 1,340 nonsmokers were compared regarding knowledge about the health effects of tobacco use, attitudes toward restrictions on smoking and other tobacco control measures, and predictions of compliance with more restrictions. The response rate was 65%. Smokers were less knowledgeable than nonsmokers. Smokers were also less likely to support bans on smoking in specific locations, but majorities of both groups supported some restriction in most settings. Smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to predict that most smokers would comply with more restrictions, and more than three quarters indicated that they, themselves, would comply. Sizable proportions of both groups, especially smokers, failed to appreciate the effectiveness of taxation in reducing smoking. Support for other control measures also differed by smoking status. Both knowledge and smoking status were independently associated with support for more restrictions and other tobacco control policy measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, ON. maryjane.ashley@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferrence
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poland
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pederson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence