Smokeless tobacco cessation interventions: A systematic review.

Background & Objectives: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption is a global health issue with about 350 million users and numerous adverse health consequences like oral cancer and myocardial disorders. Hence, cessation of SLT use is as essential as smoking cessation. An update on the available literature on SLT cessation intervention studies is provided here.

- a mixture of potent carcinogens.

Background & Objectives: Dohra is a areca nut preparation used with or without tobacco in a few of the areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. There is evidence that it causes potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer. This study was undertaken to provide information on dohra by searching through literature and also through a survey in three areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India.

Implementation of Article 20 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Background & Objectives: Article 20 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) deals with surveillance and research on all tobacco products including smokeless tobacco (SLT). Here we describe the availability of indicators related to SLT among 180 Parties to the convention (countries ratifying the WHO FCTC are referred as Parties to the Convention).

Methods: Data on SLT use among adults and adolescents and SLT-related economic and health indicators among Parties were obtained through rigorous literature search.

Setting research priorities in smokeless tobacco control: A retrospective review.

Background & Objectives: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) has become a global menace; India being one of the high-burden countries contributes about 67 per cent of its users. Although research is ongoing on various aspects of SLT use and its effects, there is a need to identify the still under-researched areas in this field. This study was aimed at delineating the quantum of research on various topics of SLT, with intent to delineate research gaps for guiding future research priorities.

A review of trade practices of smokeless tobacco products in terms of prohibition on sale, manufacturing & importation in Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ratified Parties.

Background & Objectives: Over the past decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has served as a powerful tool to initiate and advance global tobacco control efforts. However, the control strategies have mainly targeted demand-side measures. The goal of a tobacco-free world by 2040 cannot be achieved if the supply-side measures are not addressed.

A systematic review on association between smokeless tobacco & cardiovascular diseases.

Background & Objectives: The association of smokeless tobacco (SLT) with cardiovascular diseases has remained controversial due to conflicting reports from various countries. Earlier meta-analyses have shown significantly higher risk of fatal myocardial infarction and stroke in SLT users. However, the risk of hypertension (HTN) with SLT products has not been reviewed earlier.

Relationship between type of smokeless tobacco & risk of cancer: A systematic review.

Background & Objectives: Causative linkages of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use with oral potentially malignant disorders and cancers of oral cavity, oesophagus and pancreas have been reported. Published meta-analyses have provided pooled risk estimates for major cancers caused by SLT, both on global and regional levels. This systematic review was aimed at summarizing the available studies on occurrence and mortality risk of common cancers due to various SLT products.

Smokeless tobacco taxation: Lessons from Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia accounts for nearly 86 per cent of the smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumers in the world. The heterogeneous nature of SLT is a major impediment to using taxation as a tool to regulate SLT. This study was aimed to review issues around fiscal policies on SLT with the objective of providing clarity on the use of taxation as an effective policy instrument to regulate SLT use.

Regulation of toxic contents of smokeless tobacco products.

Effective regulation of contents of tobacco products is one of the primary milestones to reduce negative health effects associated with the use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) products. As per the available sources, testing of some SLT products has been done on ad hoc basis, but there is a lack of comprehensive and periodic analysis of these products. In addition, the available results indicate huge variations among the levels of pH, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N-nitrosonornicotine, benzo[a]pyrene, heavy metals and nicotine within different products as well as within different brands of the same product.

Smokeless tobacco and public health in Bangladesh.

Despite the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among adults in Bangladesh, SLT was not included in the Tobacco Control Law till 2013. Information on SLT use among Bangladeshi people is inadequate for policymaking and implementing effective control measures. With the aim to identify the prevalence and trends of different SLT products, health and economic impacts, manufacture, and sale of and policies related to SLT in Bangladesh, we carried out a literature review, which involved literature search, data extraction, and synthesis.

Tracking intervention delivery in the 'Tobacco-Free Teachers/Tobacco-Free Society' program, Bihar, India.

In health education and behavior change interventions, process tracking monitors the delivery of an intervention and its receipt to the intended audience. A randomized controlled trial in the state of Bihar, India was conducted to help school teachers become tobacco free through appropriately designed intervention program and delivery system. We describe the results from process tracking of this intervention delivery.

Awareness of pro-tobacco advertising and promotion and beliefs about tobacco use: findings from the Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India Pilot Survey.

Tobacco companies are utilizing similar strategies to advertise and promote their products in developing countries as they have used successfully for over 50 years in developed countries. The present study describes how adult smokers, smokeless tobacco users, and non-users of tobacco from the Tobacco Control Project (TCP) India Pilot Survey, conducted in 2006, responded to questions regarding their perceptions and observations of pro-tobacco advertising and promotion and beliefs about tobacco use. Analyses found that 74% (n=562) of respondents reported seeing some form of pro-tobacco advertising in the last six months, with no differences observed between smokers (74%), smokeless tobacco users (74%), and nonsmokers (73%).

Effects of a tobacco control intervention for teachers in India: results of the Bihar school teachers study.

Objectives: We assessed a school-based intervention designed to promote tobacco control among teachers in the Indian state of Bihar.

Methods: We used a cluster-randomized design to test the intervention, which comprised educational efforts, tobacco control policies, and cessation support and was tailored to the local social context. In 2009 to 2011, we randomly selected 72 schools from participating school districts and randomly assigned them in blocks (rural or urban) to intervention or delayed-intervention control conditions.

Linking India Global Health Professions Student Survey data to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The 2003 India Tobacco Control Act (ITCA) includes provisions designed to reduce tobacco consumption and protect citizens from exposure to secondhand smoke. India ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) on February 27, 2005. The WHO FCTC is the world's first public health treaty that aims to promote and protect public health and reduce the devastating health and economic impact of tobacco.

Linking Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2003 and 2006 data to tobacco control policy in India.

Background: India made 2 important policy statements regarding tobacco control in the past decade. First, the India Tobacco Control Act (ITCA) was signed into law in 2003 with the goal to reduce tobacco consumption and protect citizens from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Second, in 2005, India ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

Tobacco control in schools of India: review from India Global School Personnel Survey 2006.

School personnel are role models for students, teachers of tobacco use prevention curricula, and key influencers for tobacco control policies in schools. With their daily interactions and strong influence on their students they represent an influential group for tobacco control. Data collected through the Global School Personnel Survey during 2006 in 180 school; of 6 regions of India have shown that a large proportion (29%) of school personnel used tobacco.

Tobacco use among students and school personnel in India.

Background: Tobacco usage is addictive and causative for several diseases and premature death. Concerted efforts by the individual and society are needed for control and for surveillance. The habit is initiated during early youth and this age group requires constant monitoring and timely appropriate action to curtail usage.

Linking Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) data to the WHO framework convention on tobacco control: the case for India.

India ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) on February 27, 2005. The WHO FCTC is the world's first public health treaty that aims to promote and protect public health and reduce the devastating health and economic impacts of tobacco. Post ratification, each member state as part of general obligation has agreed to develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multisectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes in accordance with this Convention and the protocols to which it is a Party.

Tobacco control practices by medical doctors in developing world; a questionnaire study.

Aim: To know about the tobacco control practices by medical doctors in Bihar, India.

Settings & Design: All medical doctors in Bihar, India. Two stage sampling with probability propotional to the number of doctors in the districts was used.

Effectiveness of tobacco cessation intervention programs.

A study was conducted in selected districts of Bihar to evaluate the effectiveness of Intensive vs. Minimal, Community centered vs. Clinic/Camp centered and Mass/Group vs.

Tobacco use among teachers [corrected] in Uttar Pradesh & Uttaranchal, India.

Information about tobacco use prevalence, knowledge and attitude was assessed among school personnel in Uttar Pradesh. A single cluster sample design with probability proportional to the enrolment in grades 8-10 was used. Statistical analysis was done using SUDAAN and the C-sample procedure in Epi-Info.

Tobacco control practices in 25 schools of West Bengal.

Information about tobacco use prevalence, knowledge and attitude was assessed among school personnel in schools of West Bengal. Statistical analysis was done using SUDAAN and the C-sample procedure in Epi-Info. The school response rate was 100%.

Tobacco use among school personnel in Orissa.

Tobacco use prevalence, knowledge and attitude was assessed among school personnel in Orissa. A single cluster sample design with probability proportional to the enrolment in grades VIII-X was used. Statistical analysis was clone using SUDAAN and the C-sample procedure in Epi-Info.