[A nationwide survey of municipalities' policy for smoking control and its implementation in relation to its priority grading by public health officers].

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the present situation regarding implementation of smoking control programs and to clarify relations with public health officers' attitudes toward smoking control measures.

Methods: A questionnaire form was mailed to the 3,207 local municipalities throughout Japan. The items included in the form were the contents of the smoking control programs, educational activities for passive smoking prevention, interaction with the media to spread education and awareness, and public health officers' attitudes toward smoking control measures.

Results: Of 3,207 municipalities, 2,570 (80.1%) responded. Over 95% of local municipalities were undertaking smoking control programs. Among the programs carried out in practice, dividing areas into smoking and non-smoking sections in local government office buildings had the highest proportion of support (80%). On the other hand, complete prohibition of smoking in local government office buildings and non-smoking support programs were conducted by less than 20%. The dissemination of education activities were executed in 60 percent of government office buildings, and 36% of schools, but only 20% of athletic gyms, hospitals, and other facilities. Sixty percent of public health officers recognized the importance of smoking control programs. A non-smoking support program and complete prohibition of smoking in government office buildings were more likely to be executed in for local municipalities with a higher priority for smoking control programs. No significant association was found between attitudes regarding program importance and the division of areas into smoking and non-smoking sections in government office buildings.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that promotion of smoking control measures in local municipalities may be dependent on the public health officers' attitude toward the issues. High priority should be given to assisting public health officials and other key personnel in recognizing the importance of implementing smoking control measures for attaining better health.