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Objective: To determine factors predicting smoking behavior through multilevel interventions in the Royal Thai Army Conscripts., Material and Method: The present study was apart ofquasi-experimental research designed to evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation program based on ecological model for improving smoking behavior among the conscripts in the three levels ofbehavior change interventions; intrapersonal level, interpersonal level and organizational level. The 89 participants were purposively selected from the first infantry regiment of conscripts who were current smokers from the King's Royal Guards recruited into the Army in the first section of the year 2009 and put into a trial run-through of the three influential factors process throughout the first six months. The instruments used to collect data was a self-dministered questionnaire used between May 2009 and November 2009. In addition, the individual interviews and checklists of observations were employed to collect data related to organizational intervention. Data mining classification was used to predict the influential factors improving smoking behavior after the end of smoking cessation program at six months., Results: The conscripts were able to change their smoking behaviors. 62.9% ofparticipants reduced smoking, and 4.5% could quit smoking. Data mining analysis showed self-efficacy in intrapersonal level was the crucial variable to predict smoking behavior which correctly classified in the model 77.78%, subsequently, behavioralfactors, e.g., duration of smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked per day. Additionally, organizational intervention also had an influence on the change of smoking behavior by strengthening the policy related to tobacco control, settingsmoke free workplace and supportingfrom the commander. For interpersonal intervention, family support alone did not improve their smoking behaviors., Conclusion: Self-efficacy and organizational intervention can help the conscripts improve their smoking behaviors during service in the army.

Objective: To explore the cigarette consumption among foreign tourists in Thailand., Material and Method: The data in this cross-sectional survey is collected by interviewing 655 foreign tourist smokers with questionnaires in congested areas including Suvarnabhum International Airport, Khao San Road, shopping centers and tourist attraction sites. The data was collected in October, 2010, analyzed by descriptive statistic and the crude magnitude of cigarette consumption was calculated., Results: The findings indicated that 62.9% of tourists were male and 58.9% were from European countries and 22.7% were from Asian countries. 59.2% smoked cigarettes sold in Thailand and were taxed legally. In that amount, 55.7% smoked imported cigarettes and only 3.5% smoked Thai cigarettes. 40.8% had brought cigarettes from their countries or bought cigarettes from Duty Free shops with the amount allowed by Thai law. The top 2 popular brands were Marlboro and L&M. The main reason why they bought imported cigarettes in Thailand was that the price was cheaper or the same when compared with that in their countries. The cigarette consumption share crudely calculated was around 8.90 million packs., Conclusion: Foreign tourists smoked imported cigarettes distributed in Thailand and cigarettes brought from abroad. So, Free Trade Agreement in bilateral level or multilateral level need to be reviewed and should separate cigarettes from other goods. The tax barrier excise tax measure and permission law of carrying in 200 sticks should be reviewed in order to control cigarette consumption effectively.

Objective: To assess the impact of excise tax increase on smoking behavior of daily smokers aged 15 years and over and to explore the association between smokers' characteristics and smoking behavior prior and after excise tax increase., Material and Method: This cross-sectional survey was performed in 504 daily smokers, who were selected from data records of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) between February and April, 2009. The data were collected by telephone interview in the first and second weeks of July, 2009. Data were analyzed by frequency distribution and binary logistic regression., Results: After the cigarette tax increase, 9.7% of daily smokers quitted smoking and 48.0% reduced the amount of cigarettes and/or changed the brands and types of tobacco, from manufactured cigarettes to hand-rolled cigarettes. After other covariance being adjusted, the analysis revealed that the amount of cigarettes per day, the types of cigarettes (manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes), and the smokers' reaction towards the increased price after the excise tax increase were respectively associated with the fact that the smokers quitted smoking or reduced the amount of cigarettes (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Cigarette tax increase is beneficial for government revenue and it also affects smoking behavior change of daily smokers. However Ministry of Public Health should co-operate with Ministry of Finance to raise the tax rate on both cigarettes and hand-rolled cigarettes continuously and provide sufficient cessation service to respond to the need to quit smoking.