Effectiveness of government anti-smoking policy on non-smoking youth in Korea: a 4-year trend analysis of national survey data

• Published in: BMJ open 2017-07, Vol.7 (7), p.e013984-e013984
• Main Authors: Kwak, Jueun, Jeong, Hyunsuk, Chun, Sungha, Bahk, Ji Hoon, Park, Misun, Byun, Youngseol, Lee, Jina, Yim, Hyeon Woo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Bans; Child; Female; Government Programs; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Republic of Korea; Smoke-Free Policy - legislation & jurisprudence; Smoking; Smoking and Tobacco; Smoking Prevention; Teenagers; Time Factors; Tobacco smoke
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013984

ObjectivesSince the Health Promotion Act was introduced in Korea in 1995, anti-smoking policies and regulations have undergone numerous revisions, and non-smoking areas have gradually been expanded. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a partial legislative ban on adolescent exposure to secondhand smoke using objective urinary cotinine levels in a nationwide representative sample.MethodsUrine cotinine levels were measured in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011. This study was a trend analysis of 4 years of national survey data from 2197 Korean youth aged 10–18 years. Among non-smokers, the 75th percentile urinary cotinine level was estimated. We also considered the number of household smokers.ResultsThe 75th percentile urine cotinine level of non-smokers showed a significant decreasing trend from 2008 to 2011, from 15.47 to 5.37 ng/mL, respectively. Urine cotinine did not decline significantly in non-smokers living with smokers during the study period. The results did not show a statistically significant reduction in smoking rate in adolescents from 2008 to 2011, although there was a trend towards a decrease (p=0.081).ConclusionsBased on urine cotinine levels, government-initiated anti-smoking policies have only been effective among highly exposed non-smoking adolescents during the study period. Further study needs to evaluate whether or not the legislative ban affects domestic smoking exposure.