1403808, 1406575, 1407631
Attitudes towards Smoker Specific
Introduction
The distribution of smokers to non smokers differs depending on area. The four main areas that
Smoking costs the National Health Service (NHS) approximately £2 billion a year for treating diseases caused by smoking. About 77% of the price of a packet of cigarettes consists of taxation. - Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
Non-Smoker Specific
we had access to were West Sussex, Kent, LonThe aim of our research is to identify individuals attitudes towards smoking and how various factors such as gen-
don and Surrey. The graph shows that there is a
der, the area in which respondents live in and how old they are, among others influence smoking attitudes. We
varying distributions of smokers to non-smokers
also want to look at the differences between smokers and non-smokers attitudes towards various legislation and
depending on area surveyed. For example; Per-
how they respond to them. Our objectives are to see if there is a correlation between what the literature states in
centage of smokers in Kent was 25%, which is
regards to attitudes to smoking, and the responses that we received in our survey.
the lowest of the four areas, compared to Surrey
Additionally, research has led to us believing that Legislation also has an effect on individual’s attitudes to smoking. According to the
international agency for research on cancer (IARC) “Among smokers: Overall, 67% of Irish
many cigarettes do you smoke a day? 41 respondents
We will create questions linked to legislation in order to identify attitudes towards the recent changes in smoking
amount of cigarettes smoked a day by our sample is 8
laws. During our research we found that The Office for National Statistics suggests that “the main reasons why
(rounded). From the statistics we can also see that the range
lished the need for questions that relate to identifying individuals attitudes to smoking and how they differ with various factors.
respondents is significantly greater than the number
are significantly more concerned about their
have a significantly lower concern about their
health than smokers.
health.
Smokers tend to have no opinion on whether
This could indicate that the reason for not
they have concerns about their health,
smoking initially would be because they have a
On average how many cigarettes do you smoke
compared to those non-smokers. It is also important to note that Non-smokers opinions tend
didn’t take up the habit.
to be distributed across the board, so it is
We were interested to see what reasons non-
difficult to draw a definite direction.
smokers gave for not smoking, so we used a The Office for National statistics states that
ranking question to gauge which factors
“Smoking rates were highest among people
ranked most important reasons for not start-
of responses was 30, from 0 to 30 cigarettes a day. The most
cohabiting (33%) than for any other marital
ing smoking. As shown on the pie chart incon-
frequently appearing response was 1 cigarette a day, this could be due to the fact that we asked social smoker to class themselves under the smoker specific questions and therefore
From the graph we can see the number of female
From the graph we can see that non-smokers
Those who have previously smoked are seen to
greater concern for their health and therefore
answered this question as shown ‘valid’ on table 1. The mean
smokers reported support for a total ban on smoking in work-places; for the UK, the support was just over 40%”.
leads to questions regarding why people choose to smoke or not. By performing our research we have estab-
non-smokers who have previously smoked.
Table 1. Statistical values
We created a question asking respondents on average, how
of our responses was 7.63, this shows that the average
non-smokers said they would mind if people smoked near them were the smell of cigarette smoke 65%”. This
have not previously smoked in comparison with
number of smokers in Surrey compared to Kent.
women smoke”, this suggests that research should be conducted in order to assess whether this is true and if so,
smokers
cern about health amongst non-smokers who
from our pooled sample there is over double the
The European journal for public health suggests that “in the European Union, about 40% of men and 30% of
what influences women to smoke less and what leads to men smoking more.
In this graph there is a significantly higher con-
which is 67% this would lead us to assume that
In the literature research, we established a number of influences that affect people’s attitudes around smoking.
Comparison between smokers and non-
this could of hindered the results as it could of brought the av-
status group”. The graph to the left shows
venience has the highest percentage of im-
that the results from smokers are fairly
portance from non-smokers, this would in-
balance between being single and in a
clude things like smoking outside due to new
relationship. We are making the assumption that the majority of people in a
legislation and breaks throughout work. The
erage (mean) down.
percentage for cost and smell were incredibly
When looking into how partners can affect
of male respondents. Our overall response rate was
smoking routines, we first needed to see which
100 meaning we received 71 female respondents and
of our participants had partners and which did-
29 males. We chose to include this question to give
relationship are cohabiting.
similar although health has proved to be the lowest concern for non-smokers.
Comparing non-smokers and smokers we
The graph to the left shows the attitudes non-smoker
can see that people who are single are
n't, Almost half (52%) of the partners were
respondents have in regards to people smoking around
more likely to smoke, with 49% of smokers
smokers and the other 48% non-smoker giving
them. The overall majority of respondents agreed 48%
being single compared with 25% of
us a fairly even spread of results. We decided
that they were not concerned about people smoking
non-smokers that were single. On the other
upon this question as we found a statement
around them where as 41% found people smoking
from The Office of National Statistics stating
around them to be an issue with 11% stating that their
that “The majority of smokers (81 per cent)
feelings to smokers around them was
Before constructing our survey we came
said that they modified their behaviour when in
“Respondents who had never smoked regularly were
across the government statistic that “In 2012,
the presence of non-smoking adults: 50 per
also more likely to mind smokers smoking near them”
those aged 20 to 24 and 25 to 34 reported the
cent did not smoke at all and 31 per cent
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
each question a male and female perspectives as our literature showed that there was a clear difference of opinion between the genders, this will be come apparent in the comparison section below.
highest prevalence of cigarette smoking (29
smoked fewer cigarettes”
per cent and 27 per cent respectively)” (Health
Our results showed that 80% of smoker
and Social Care Information Centre) (HSCIC)
changed their smoking habits whilst with a
smokes .
smoker that have been surveyed , in comparison to
However 56% of respondents with partners
non-smokers. This can be used to compare how atti-
who do not smoke stated that they smoke
tudes differ in relation to all of our questions. In our
less often compared with 44% who said
survey we included smoker specific and non-smoker
their smoking habits were unaffected. This
specific questions to be able to look in depth into the
shows that non-smoking partners have less
opposing opinions between the two categories.
of an effect on smokers habits in compari-
This graph shows that those who have not pre-
there is a relationship between whether respondents
viously smoked are more concerned about
smoked and should cigarettes be highly taxed. Null Hypothesis (N0) - There is no significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers and their opinions on whether cigarettes should be highly taxed; Smoking does not influence opinions on whether cigarettes should be highly taxed. Alternative Hypothesis (N1) - There is a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers and their opinion on whether cigarettes should be highly taxed; Smokers
about their health as shown in previous graph.
more frequently with a partner who also The graph adjacent is to illustrate the number of
A Mann Whitney test has been conducted to see whether
previously smoked before are less concerned
50% of the smokers saying they smoke
pare our results with that of the HSCIC.
compared to 13% of non-smokers.
could be due to the fact that those who have
greatly influences the smokers habits with
have a high level of respondents we can com-
neutral .
to whether smokers smoke around them. This
showing that having a partner who smokes
spondents were aged between26-35. As we
that only 5% of smokers were married
have previously smoked are not too concerned
who didn't change their smoking habits,
ents were aged between 16-25, and 11 re-
smoke less from our results. We can see
smokers smoking around them, than those who
partner who smokes, compared with 20%
From the graph we are see that 72 respond-
hand people who are married tend to
will disagree that cigarettes should be highly taxed. We accept the alternative hypothesis because there is a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers opinions on whether cigarettes should be highly taxed.
This graph shows that non-smokers have not
U=539.000 P(<0.0005)<0.05
noticed a change in the influence of advertising on non-smokers decision to smoke. There
This graph shows that the majority of non-
is a fairly split percentage in difference of
smokers agree that E-cigarettes should be
opinions that lack of advertising has benefit-
banned in all public places, although smokers
ted non-smokers. It may be seen that non-
son with respondents who’s partners smoke.
tend to disagree with banning E-cigarettes.
smokers have not noticed the lack of advertis-
Showing that there is a conflict between smokers
ing as they don’t smoke.
and non-smokers opinions on smoking legislation/ banned around smoking alternatives.
This question was used to discover the most successful and unsuccessful quitting methods as ranked by smokers. From the graph adjacent we can see that nicotine substitutes ranked the most successful along with Stop smoking campaigns such as Stoptober although this contrasts with the opinion on our second graph stating that Stop smoking campaigns were the most unsuccessful quitting method, this could show that
There is only a tiny percentage who agreed with smoking around under 16’s proven by the state-
“The Government conservatively estimated that
ment from Office for national statistics “Smokers
the tobacco advertising ban would result in a
tended to impose stricter controls on their smok-
2.5% fall in consumption” (Action on smoking
ing in the presence of children than in a room of
and health) (ASH). The graph shows there is re-
adult non-smokers” (ONS) 84% disagreed with
lationship between those who agree that a lack
smoking around under 16’s showing a significant
of advertising prevents non-smokers starting to
difference between people who agree and
smoke; their opinions of hidden cigarettes be-
disagree.
hind counters. 9% Disagree with hiding cigarettes, therefore there is a link between adver-
Stoptober is a popular stop smoking method,
tising and preventing new smokers.
by more people attempting this method there will be more opinions on this method. We
Conclusion
Reflection
under 16s as “The figures for those who
From our research we found that non-smokers tend to have a negative opinion on smoking, compared to smokers
smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day were 66
who have a more accepting opinion on smoking. We accept this literature to a certain extent; however whilst looking
per cent 80 per cent of those who smoked
closer into non-smokers we found that of our sample, a large percentage had previously smoked. From these that
fewer than 20 cigarettes a day would not
previously smoked there is a clear link between their opinions and the opinions of current smokers. from our survey
smoke at all in front of a child” (ONS)
we concluded this to be true as most respondents said they would not smoke around under 16’s. Comparing this
were interested to see if people that had tried to quit smoking agreed with smoking around
References Ash.org.uk, (n.d.). Fact Sheets. [online] Available at: http://ash.org.uk/information/facts-and-stats/fact-sheets [Accessed 11 Oct. 2015].
H0 –There is no significant difference between smokers opinions
BOYLE, P., GANDINI, S. and ROBERTSON, C. (2000). Characteristics of smokers' attitudes towards stopping. 1st ed. [ebook] Oxford: Oxford Journals. Available at: http:// eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/eurpub/10/suppl_3/5.full.pdf [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015].
on smoking around under 16’s and the motivation for them to quit
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, Smoking Habits Amongst Adults, 2012. (2013). 1st ed. [ebook] Office for National Statistics. Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/ dcp171776_328041pdf [Accessed 11 Oct. 2015].
smoking.
Ons.gov.uk, (2008). Smoking related behaviour and attitudes, 2008/09 - ONS. [online] Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lifestyles/smoking-related-behaviourand-attitudes/2008-09/index.html [Accessed 14 Oct. 2015]. Public attitudes towards smoke-free policies – including compliance with policies. (n.d.). 1st ed. [ebook] IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention. Available at: http:// www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/prev/handbook13/handbook13-5.pdf [Accessed 7 Oct. 2015]. Smoking and Tobacco Use, (n.d.). CDC - Fact Sheet - Smoking Cessation - Smoking & Tobacco Use. [online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/ fact_sheets/cessation/quitting/ [Accessed 15 Oct. 2015].
Mann– Whitney Test Statistics Smoke around under
H1—There is a significant difference between non-smokers
16s? Mann-Whitney U
157.500
them to quit smoking; Therefore smokers who have tried to quit in
Wilcoxon W
535.500
the past strongly disagree with smoking around under 16’s.
Z
-1.948
Asymp. Sig. (2-tailed)
We accept the alternative hypothesis as there is a significant difference.
a. Grouping Variable: Tried to give up?
U=157.500
P(<0.0005)<0.05
.051
sampling, as we have more female than male respondents.
Plan a regular meeting day that everybody can attend, as this was an issue in the beginning of researching due to group members having to commute.
We would have included less open answered questions as this lead to a number of questions not being able to include in the poster
and non-smokers. The results we received from our research are the results we expected to receive after researching the attitudes towards smoking and looking into literature. To conclude our literature research tends to represent
opinions on smoking around under 16’s and the motivations for
Statistics on smoking. (2014). [online] Available at: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB14988/smok-eng-2014-rep.pdf [Accessed 1 Oct. 2015]. UK Tobacco Advertising and Promotion. (2015). 1st ed. [ebook] Action on Smoking and health. Available at: http://ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_124.pdf [Accessed 17 Oct. 2015].
with non-smokers we can see that the opinions on smoking around under 16’s remains the same between smokers
Changing the sampling method could increase the reliability of our data if you used systematic or random
We could of condense a few questions down so that we could include more question about attitude without make the survey to long
the views and attitudes of our sample population. Smokers and non-smokers appear to have opposite views when it comes to attitudes on smoking; however when looking into some topics such as smoking around other and children,
We could of include professional wording when formulating the questions
smokers and non-smokers opinions appear to be similar.
Aim to make the poster flow, link each section.