Factors Influencing Smokers' Decisions to Consume Light Cigarettes

影響淡菸吸菸決策因素之研究

10.7118/JHSS.200906.0001

李家銘(Jie-Min Lee)；王惠正(Hui-Cheng Wang)；陳昇鴻(Sheng-Hung Chen)

淡菸 ； 認知安全 ； 吸菸決策 ； light cigarettes ； health threats ； smoker's decisions

人文暨社會科學期刊

5卷1期（2009 / 06 / 01）

1 - 9

英文

目標：本研究主要目的在認定影響吸菸者抽淡菸的決策因素。研究結果有助於台灣衛生主管機關制定相關淡菸之菸害防制政策。方法：建立Probit模型使用衛生署國民健康局2002年3,939位吸菸者的調查資料進行分析。結果：研究發現年齡、性別、教育水準、所得水準、戒菸意願及菸價都會對淡菸吸菸決策產生影響。最重要地，發現認知抽淡菸較健康之吸菸者愈會去抽淡菸。結論：我們發現吸菸者未察覺淡菸對身體健康所產生之嚴重威脅。因此，政府可針對淡菸吸菸族群設計教育之宣導預防介入方案，特別是女性及有戒菸意願吸菸者。我們也建議政府對淡菸提高菸稅及限制香菸製造商在香菸包裝盒上使用「淡」或「低」焦油的文字。

Objectives: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the factors influencing smokers' decisions to consume light cigarettes. The results can help public health authorities draft appropriate anti-smoking policies for light cigarettes. Methods: In this study we created a probit model using data on 3,939 smokers drawn from a survey compiled in 2000 by the Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, Executive Yuan in Taiwan. Results: We found several important factors influencing smokers' decisions to consume light cigarettes, including age, gender, educational level, income level, percentage intending to quit smoking, and price. Most importantly, we found that smokers who are concerned about their health are most likely to consume light cigarettes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that most smokers are unaware of the serious health threats posed by light cigarettes. Therefore, we recommend that the ROC government develop education programs targeted toward the typical light cigarette smoker, especially women and those who want to stop smoking. We also recommend that the government increase the tax on light cigarettes and restrict the right of cigarette manufacturers to include such words as ”light” or ”low-tar” on the labels of their products.

1. Benowitz, N. L.,Hall, S. M.,Herning, R. I.,Jacob, P.,Jones, R. T.,Osman, A. L.(1983).Smokers of low-yield cigarettes do not consume less nicotine.The New England Journal of Medicine,309,139-142.
2. Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health(2002).Survey of the health promotion knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Taiwan citizens.Taipei:Author.
3. Cohen, J. B.(1996).Smokers' knowledge and understanding of advertised tar numbers: Health policy implications.American Journal of Public Health,86,18-24.
4. Cronbach, L. J.(1951).Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.Psychometrika,16,297-334.
5. Cuieford, J. P.(1965).Fundamental statistics in psychology and education.New York:Mcgraw-Hill.
6. Djordjevic, M. V.,Stellman, S. D.,Zang, E.(2000).Doses of nicotine and lung carcinogens delivered to cigarette smokers.Journal of the National Cancer Institute,92,106-111.
7. Federal Trade Commission [FTC](1994).Report to congress for 1994 pursuant to the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertisement Act.Washington, D.C.:Author.
8. Gajendra, K. V.,Kanka, M.(1999).Researching education: Perspectives and techniques.London:Falmer press.
9. Gori, G. B.(1990).Consumer perception of cigarette yields: Is the message relevant?.Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology,12,64-68.
10. Kelbsch, J.,Meyer, C.,Rumpf, H. J.,John, U.,Hapke, U.(2005).Stages of change and other factors in "light" cigarette smokers.European Journal of Public Health,15,46-51.
11. Kluger, R.(1996).Ashes to ashes: America's hundred-year cigarette war, the public health, and the unabashed triumph of Philip Morris.New York:Alfred A. Knopf.
12. Kozlowski, L. T.,Goldberg, M. E.,Yost, B. A.(1998).Smokers' misperceptions of light and ultra-light cigarettes may keep them smoking.American Journal of Preventive Medicine,15,9-16.
13. Kuller, L. H.,Ockene, J. K.,Meilahn, E.,Wentworth, D. N.,Svendsen, K. H.,Neaton, J. D.(1991).Cigarette smoking and mortality, MRFIT Research Group.Preventive Medicine,29,638-654.
14. Maxwell, J. C.(1996).Marlboro dominates.Tobacco Reporter,23,19-21.
15. Ockene, J. K.,Kuller, L. H.,Svendsen, K. H.,Meilahn, E.(1990).The relationship of smoking cessation to coronary heart disease and lung cancer in the multiple risk factor intervention trial (MRFIT).American Journal of Public Health,80,954-958.
16. Okubo,Y.,Miyamoto, T.,Suwazono, Y.,Kobayashi, E.,Nogawa, K.(2002).An association between smoking habits and blood pressure in normotensive Japanese men.Journal of Human Hypertension,16,91-96.
17. Richard, J. O.,Rebecca, L. A.,Brian, V. F.,Larry, W. H.,Michael, C.,William, C. S.(2007).College students' expectancies for light cigarettes and potential reduced exposure.American Journal of Health Behavior,31,402-410.
18. Ronald, C. P.,Sonia, L.,Tricia, P.,Wild, C. T.,Jennifer, E. B.(2007).Demographic, health, and behavioral factors associated with smoking in adults with type 1 or type 2 Diabetes.American Journal of Health Behavior,31,13-23.
19. Russell, M. A.,Jarvis, M.,Iyer, R.,White, E. L.,Sweeney, C. T.,Pillitteri, J. L.(1980).Relation of nicotine yield of cigarettes to blood nicotine concentrations in smokers.British Medicine Journal,280,972-976.
20. Scherer, G.(1999).Smoking behavior and compensation: A review of the literature.Psychopharmacology,145,1-20.
21. Shiffman, S.,Pillitteri, J. L.,Burton, S. L.,Rohay, J. M.,Gitchell, J. G.(2001).Smokers' beliefs about "Light" and "Ultra Light" cigarettes.Tobacco Control,10,17-23.
22. Thun, M. J.,Lally, C. A.,Flannery, J. T.,Calle, E. E.,Flanders, W. D.,Heath, C. W.(1997).Cigarette smoking and changes in the histopathology of lung cancer.Journal of the National Cancer Institute,89,1580-1586.
23. US Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS](1989).Reducing the health consequences of smoking: 25 years of progress.A report of the Surgeon General, US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, Rockville, Maryland,CDC,89-8411.
24. Warner, K. E.,Slade, J.(1992).Low tar, high toll.American Journal of Public Health,82,17-18.