Abstract
Using data from a 1996 random-digit-dialling computer-assisted telephone survey of Ontario adults, 424 smokers and 1,340 non-smokers were compared regarding knowledge about the health effects of tobacco use, attitudes toward restrictions on smoking and other tobacco control measures, and predictions of compliance with more restrictions. The response rate was 65%. Smokers were less knowledgeable than nonsmokers. Smokers were also less likely to support bans on smoking in specific locations, but majorities of both groups supported some restriction in most settings. Smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to predict that most smokers would comply with more restrictions, and more than three quarters indicated that they, themselves, would comply. Sizable proportions of both groups, especially smokers, failed to appreciate the effectiveness of taxation in reducing smoking. Support for other control measures also differed by smoking status. Both knowledge and smoking status were independently associated with support for more restrictions and other tobacco control policy measures.
Résumé
À partir de données recueillies en 1996 lors d’un sondage téléphonique à numéros aléatoires assisté par ordinateur et mené auprès d’adultes de l’Ontario, nous avons comparé les réponses de 424 fumeurs et de 1 340 non-fumeurs concernant les effets du tabagisme sur la santé, les attitudes à l’égard de restrictions et d’autres mesures de contrôle de l’usage du tabac et les prédictions quant au respect de restrictions plus nombreuses. Le taux de réponse au sondage a été de 65 %. Les fumeurs avaient moins de connaissances que les non-fumeurs. Les fumeurs étaient également moins portés à appuyer l’interdiction de fumer à certains endroits précis, mais la majorité des répondants des deux groupes appuyaient l’idée d’imposer certaines restrictions dans la plupart des endroits. Les fumeurs étaient plus portés que les non-fumeurs à prédire que la plupart des fumeurs se conformeraient à un plus grand nombre de restrictions; plus des trois-quarts d’entre eux ont indiqué qu’eux-mêmes s’y conformeraient. Une grande proportion des deux groupes, surtout parmi les fumeurs, ne croyait pas que les taxes étaient un moyen efficace de réduire l’usage du tabac. Les deux groupes ne donnaient pas le même appui à d’autres mesures de contrôle du tabagisme. La connaissance et le statut de fumeur ou de non-fumeur étaient associés de façon indépendante à l’appui donné à des restrictions plus nombreuses et à d’autres mesures de contrôle de l’usage du tabac.
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