title: Key Policy Makers' Awareness of Tobacco Taxation Effectiveness through a Sensitization Program.
abstract: The implementation of 5 of the 6 WHO MPOWER program in Iran is satisfactory; the only notable shortcoming is the lack of tobacco taxation increases. This study was designed to increase key policy makers' awareness of tobacco taxation effectiveness through a sensitization program in Iran. This analytical and semi-experimental study in 2014 included 110 tobacco control key policy makers, who were trained and received educational materials on the importance of tobacco taxation. A valid and reliable questionnaire was completed before and three months after intervention. Data were analyzed using mean (SD), t-Test and analysis of variance. The mean (SD) scores at pre- and post-test were 2.7 ± 3 and 8.8 ± 1 out of 10, respectively. Paired t-tests demonstrated a significant difference in the pre- post-test knowledge scores. Increasing knowledge and promoting favorable attitudes of policy makers can lead to greater attention which could in turn change tobacco taxation policies.
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Prevention and Control Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.affiliation: Community Oral Health Department, School of Dentistry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebn Ahmady
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA.
authors.forename: Harry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lando
authors.affiliation: Department of Library, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chamyani
authors.affiliation: Chronic Respiratory Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masjedi
authors.affiliation: Tracheal Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Shadmehr
authors.affiliation: Telemedicine Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fadaizadeh
mesh_terms: D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013660:Taxes; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics*; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000191:economics*