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Tobacco smoking has long been one of the most important risk factors contributing to the development of many health problems e.g. cardiovascular diseases respiratory diseases and cancers. Smoking is a modifiable factor, which means that every smoker who quit smoking has a great chance to lower the risk of developing these diseases. The aim of the study was to identify the factors influencing smoking among people over 45 and to estimate the extent of the phenomenon of smoking in 2 Polish provinces: Wielkopolskie and Dolnośląskie. The sample was 867 persons over 45. The number of study subjects was proportional to the sex and age structure of Polish population. The sampling was random and the research tool was a self-made survey questionnaire. In order to identify factors contributing to smoking a logistic regression analysis was applied. Tobacco was smoked by 16.7% of the research subjects (15.1% of women and 19.1% of men). In Wielkopolskie province smokers constituted 19% of the sample (17.7% of women and 22% of men), in Dolnośląskie province 14.1% of the respondents were smokers (12.5% of women and 16.2% of men). Smoking is more prevalent among men aged 55-65 years (OR=4.34; 95% CI: 2.0-9.41). The lowest prevalence of smoking without statistical significance was in rural areas (OR=0.63; 95% CI: 3.6-1.10) and among persons with low educational levels (OR=0.74; 95% Cl: 0.36-1.56). Significantly higher prevalence of smoking was found among the unemployed (OR=2.90; 95% CI: 1.07-7.84) and people performing partly physical work (OR=2.82; 95% Cl: 1.37-5.79). The prevalence of smoking was higher among people being in a relationship (OR=1.63; 95% Cl: 1.0-2.66) and declaring income below PLN 1,000 per month (OR=2.82; 95% CI: 0.81-3.55). Statistically significantly lower risk of smoking was among obese subjects (OR-0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.74). It was found that the number of years of smoking significantly correlated with high systolic blood pressure and the number of smoked cigarettes was associated with hinh level of LDL cholesterol. The smokers aged over 45 can be generally characterized as strongly addicted and have been smoking for many years. Anti-tobacco activities targeted at this group should be intensified in order to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked daily. These interventions should take into account group characteristics and its needs.

Tobacco smoking is a significant part of life stile and the factor, which determinates state of health in a high rate. It is a very important social problem in Poland, because in spite of relative extensive knowledge about tobacco influence on bio-, psycho-, socio-well being, percentage of smokers is still high. These remarks should lead to creation "the fashion of no smoking" among future health care workers. According to organized activity cycle in the first stage this research we decided to diagnose the environment of the students and then to plane and implement health promotion and disease prevention activities, and finally evaluate them. The aim of the study was to analyze tobacco smoking among students of Nursing. The problems concerned level of dependence, readiness to stop smoking and knowledge about harmfulness of nicotine.

Tobacco smoking is one of the principal public health problems. Therefore, at present, many new methods of prevention are being introduced. That is why education programs in Universities of Medical Sciences are very important. The aim of the study was to evaluate tobacco smoking among students of Midwifery. The study was performed among 73 students. They answered 16 questions concerning smoking and knowledge about nicotine dependence.

Tobacco smoking is accompanying people for many years. Last century it accompanied inseparable not only adult part of our society--3 of young people smoked. They attempted one or many times to smoke, and this way they often started regular smoking. The aim of this study was analysis of spread of tobacco smoking among 90 first year midwifery students. The study was conducted in the University of Medical Sciences in Poznan. The questionnaire included 13 questions, The Fagerstom- and the Schneider-Tests. The results show that only 3 (3.33%) persons regularly smoke cigarettes. Most of the students are conscious (aware) of threat of nicotine dependence.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most frequent chronic diseases and the sixth leading cause of death in the world. The cigarette smoking is the most important cause of the disease and therefore, that COPD is preventable. Programmes detecting COPD in its preclinical phase using spirometry with successful smoking cessation prevent disease progression. The aim of the study was to assess the implementation and accomplishment of the program of early detection and prevention of COPD. The program was held in 2002 and carried out by eleven health care institutions. Active smokers over 40 insured in the Fund were offered free spirometry, chest x ray, individual and group behavioural therapy to stop smoking, and chest physician's examination for patients with diagnosed pathology. The results of this part of the study partly confirm influence of age, gender, distance between place of realisation of the program and place of living, and results of examinations performed in the program on participation in chest physician's examination and individual and group behavioural therapy.

Smoking is a very serious problem and it is wide spread among young and middle aged people. It is one of the social factors which act disadvantageous for the health of women. The aim of the study was to asses smoking among women with benign and malignant tumours. There were 280 28-59 year's old women hospitalised in surgical wards in Wielkopolska Oncology Centre in Poznań. In survey questionnaire the women were asked about the count of cigarettes smoked every day. The collected data let to define statistical dependence between the count of smoked cigarettes and place of living, age, education and time between diagnosis and qualification for operation. Results showed that the count of daily smoked cigarettes significant grows in 28-38 years old women that were waiting for the operation no longer than 3 weeks. Similar results were found in analysis of dependence between education and place of living and presumptive diagnosis and kind of operation. Women with benign tumours (no radical operation) and high and middle education, living in big cities smoked significantly more cigarettes then women with basic or professional education living in small cities and villages. Maybe it is connected with their anxiety of result of operation and mistrust of presumptive diagnosis. Comparable results were found in young women with diagnosed malignant tumours who were prepared to radical mastectomy.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most frequent chronic diseases and the sixth leading cause of death in the world. The cigarette smoking is the most important cause of the disease and therefore, that COPD is preventable. Programmes detecting COPD in its preclinical phase using spirometry with successful smoking cessation prevent disease progression. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of COPD and other pulmonary diseases among participants of the program of early detection and prevention of COPD. The program was held in 2002 and carried out by eleven health care institutions. Active smokers over 40 insured in the Fund were offered free spirometry, chest x ray, individual and group behavioural therapy to stop smoking, and chest physician's examination for patients with diagnosed pathology. The results confirm high detection of COPD and other diseases and confirm the efficacy of targeted screening for early detection of COPD and other diseases.