AN ASSESSMENT OF MORTALITY FROM EXPOSURE TO SECOND-HAND SMOKE(SHS) AMONG MALAYSIA POPULATION.- A STUDY PROTOCOL.

Background: Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure substantially affect the health of the population, and reduce the SHS exposure is one of the public health measure to address the problem. Local information on mortality due to SHS exposure will assist the policy makers to formulated the suitable policies and measures to address the SHS exposure among Malaysian population. Materials and Methods: The secondary data analysis of National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2006 and mortality data from 2007 until the year 2019 will be merged based on the identifier (Identification card number of respondents). The identifier will be deleted once the merging of data completed, and the completed data set can only be accesses by research team members. The Hazard ratio of mortality rate due to SHS exposure will be determine using the Multiple Cox Regression(MCR) after adjusted for possible confounding factors. The assumption of MCR will be checked to ensure the fit of the model. Expected Outcome: The findings from the present study are important to provide information on mortality due to SHS exposure among the local residents. Such information is particularly helpful in providing the real health problems due to second-hand smoke among Malaysian population, the information will also the health promotion activities to reduce the SHS exposure among Malaysian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]