title: Smoking behaviors and perceived risk of injuries in Italy, 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Apart from cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, smoking is associated with an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Many of these can be accounted for by dangerous smoking behaviors such as smoking in bed or while driving. We estimated therefore the prevalence of these hazardous smoking behaviors and the perceived risk of accidents associated with them in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived by a survey on smoking on 3057 subjects, representative of the Italian population aged > or =15 years. Specific questions were included on prevalence and risk perception of smoking while driving or in bed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all current smokers (23.5% of the Italian population), 12% reported smoking while in bed, 69% reported smoking while driving a car, and 17% reported smoking while driving a motorcycle. Predictors of smoking while driving were younger age, male sex, and being a heavy smoker. Of the total population, 81% reported that smoking while driving increased the risk of accident, but public perception was lower in men, the young, current smokers, and among the subjects engaging in these behaviors. About 7% of car injuries in Italy could involve a subject who smokes while driving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts should be taken, therefore, to disseminate knowledge about the smoking behaviors associated to high risk of injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, 20156 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacobelli
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallus
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petridou
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zuccaro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacifici
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009049:Motorcycles; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult