The impact of reduced ignition propensity cigarette regulation on smoking behaviour in a cohort of Ontario smokers.
This study examined the degree to which legislation intended to reduce the incidence of cigarette-caused fires influenced the behaviours of a cohort of smokers in Ontario. A random digit dialled telephone survey of adult smokers residing in Ontario was conducted in 2005, ending 1 month prior to the reduced ignition propensity (RIP) regulation's implementation date. A follow-up survey was conducted one year later. Of the baseline participants, 73.0% (n=435) completed the follow-up survey. The frequency of fire risk behaviours was similar across both surveys. At baseline, only 3.7% of smokers interviewed reported that their cigarettes went out on their own 'often' while smoking. Following the implementation of the reduced ignition propensity legislation, this increased significantly to 14.7%. Results suggest that the proportion of Ontario smokers who reported engaging in behaviour such as leaving a cigarette burning unattended and smoking in bed actually declined, although these declines were not statistically significant across all measures of fire risk.
O'Connor
Richard J
RJ
Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA.
Fix
Brian V
BV
Hammond
David
D
Giovino
Gary A
GA
Hyland
Andrew
A
Fong
Geoffrey T
GT
Cummings
K Michael
KM
D000059:Accidents / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult