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Aims: To determine the prevalence of asthma, asthma-like symptoms and allergic diseases among adults 30-49 years of age in regions of Bolu., Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was given to families of students in schools in different areas of Bolu, Turkey. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and a questionnaire, including questions about the socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics of the participants, were responded to by 1403 people., Results: The prevalence of symptoms and diseases were as follows: wheezing in the last year 12.0% (n=168), asthma 8.7% (n=121), doctor-diagnosed asthma 3.6% (n=50), currently taking drugs for asthma 1.2% (n=17), allergic rhinitis 16.5% (n=230), and eczema 9.6% (n=134). The risk factors for each symptom or disease were as follows: for wheezing: smoking in the house (odds ratio [OR]=2.43 and 95% Confidence Limits [95%CL]=1.53-3.86), living in a non-concrete building (OR=2.17, 95%CL=1.27-3.69); for asthma: mold in the house (OR=1.70, 95% CL=1.05-2.76), living in a shanty (OR=2.76, 95%CL=1.30-5.85), smoking in the house (OR=1.51, 95%CL=1.02-2.22); for allergic rhinitis: being female (OR=1.55, 95%CL=1.08-2.24), living in a shanty (OR=5.81, 95%CL=2.06-16.39), a monthly income below $300 (OR = 1.74, 95%CL=1.13-2.69)., Conclusions: A high rate of undiagnosed and untreated people with asthma among adults 30-49 years of age is present in Bolu. Especially, while a low socioeconomic level was observed to increase the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis, risk of wheeze and asthma was found to be elevated by smoking in house.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of smoking habits and education of family, parents, the type of school and gender on smoking in adolescents., Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1062 students from eight high schools in Eyup, Istanbul., Results: Twenty-five per cent of students were current smokers (30.1% of boys [n = 551], 20.9% girls [n= 511] 95% CI [26%, 34%] and [17%, 24%] respectively, (p < 0.05). Smoking rate was highest in vocational high schools and lowest in super high schools (33% [n = 406, 95% CI (29%, 38%)] and 11% [n = 127, 95% CI (6%, 17%)] respectively, p < 0.05). Smoking rate was higher in mothers (31.6% [n = 174, 95% CI (25%, 39%)] vs 15.5% [n = 336, 95% CI(12%, 19%)] and siblings (27.7% [n = 141, 95% CI (20%, 35%)] vs 18% [n = 350, 95% CI (14%, 22%)] of the female students who smoke than of those who did not smoke (p < 0.05). The rate of smoking in the siblings of 'smoker' boys was higher than that of 'non-smoker' boys (44.6% [n = 130, 95% CI (36%, 53%)] and 26.1% [n = 402, 95% CI (22%, 30%)] respectively; p < 0.05). The education level of 28%, [n = 82, 95% CI (19%, 39%)] of the mothers of 'smoker' girls, and of 19.6% [n = 429, 95% CI (16%, 23%)] of 'non-smoker' girls was high school and above (p < 0.05). The rate of high school and above education was higher in parents of male students who smoke than that in nonsmokers [45.1% and 27.9%, 95% CI (33%, 55%)] and (24%, 32%), respectively, p < 0.05. Number of smokers saying "Yes" in support of controlling smoking was less than non-smokers (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Smoking rate was higher in boys, in vocational high schools and seems to be influenced by smoking habits and higher educational levels of their family members. This influence differs according to gender. Anti-tobacco messages should target family, friends and schools of adolescents.

In this study we aimed to determine the smoking habits of the elementary school teacher students and to examine the factors affecting smoking. The prepared questionnaires were applied to 3rd and 4th year students by selecting randomly. The ratio of the students smoking regularly and occasionally was 45.8%. The smoking frequency was higher in male and fourth year students [63 (53.8%) of males, 85 (41.3%) of females (p< 0.05); 102 (52.3%) students in 4th year and 46 (35.9%) students in 3rd year (p< 0.01)]. The most common reason of not smoking was the harmful effect of smoking to life (45.8%), the most common reason of initiating smoking was to decrease their stress (43.1%) and the most common reason to keep on smoking was difficulty of quitting (56.7%). When compared to nonsmokers, the smoking frequency of mothers, brothers, all family members and close friends of smoker students were higher (p< 0.05). There was significant difference between depression symptom scores of the students who were smoking and the ones who were nonsmokers (14.9 +/- 7.6 in smokers, 9.8 +/- 6.3 in nonsmokers; p< 0.05). The smoking frequency among school teacher students was very high. The smoking habits of close friends, regular alcohol intake, and presence of depressive symptoms were increasing the risk of smoking. It will be beneficial for public health to plan and apply appropriate education program for students who will be the first teachers of the primary school students, not to start smoking.

We aimed to determine the smoking habits of the health care workers and their approach to smoking. A questionnaire was applied to the health care workers about smoking in the counties of Istanbul (in Eyüp and Gaziosmanpaşa). Of 629 participants, the ratio of smoking in all health care workers was 49.3%. There was no difference in the frequency of smoking in the health care workers about sex, marital status, private or state hospital, the group of job, general practitioner or specialist doctor (p> 0.05). However, the rate of smoking was lower in married doctors than unmarried ones, and it was higher in male technician than females (p< 0.05). Partners of smoker doctors and nurses had higher smoking rate (p< 0.01). There was no difference between smoker and nonsmoker doctors in asking about smoking to their patients. The rate of "Yes" answer to the question of "Do you explain the necessity and recommend to give up smoking to more than 70% of your smoking patients?" asked to the doctors was different between smoker and nonsmoker doctors (58.8% and 72.5% respectively, p< 0.05). These results show that more efforts are needed and should be spent on the education about the harmful effects of tobacco products and needs of fighting against smoking in medical faculties, in health occupation schools, in all health care services.