The Economics of Tobacco and Tobacco Control

This monograph, a joint effort of the U.S. National Cancer Institute and World Health Organization, examines economic issues in tobacco and tobacco control, including the supply and demand of tobacco products. This first chapter frames the issues addressed in the monograph and describes its organization around key topic areas. Each monograph chapter focuses on the global evidence on these issues, particularly the evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The closing sections of this chapter present chapter conclusions and major overall conclusions generated by the work presented here. Experts in economics, tobacco control, public policy, public health, and other related fields from every region in the world, including high-income countries and LMICs, were assembled to provide the research and analyses presented within these pages. It is hoped that this monograph will help inform the implementation of global tobacco control efforts in the 21st century.Additional co-authors: Dongbo Fu, C.K. Gajalakshmi, Vendhan Gajalakshmi, Mark Goodchild, Emmanuel Guindon, Prakash Gupta, Reviva Hasson, Luminita S Hayes, Sara Hitchman, Kinh Hoang-Van, Jidong Huang, Andrew Hyland, Nathan Jones, John Keyser, Pierre Kopp, Harry Lando, David Levy, James Lightwood, Christine Logel, Benn McGrady, Yumiko Mochizuki-Kobayashi, Mario Monsour, Nigar Nargis, Richard J. O’Connor, Maizurah Omar, Zeynep Önder, William Onzivu, Anne-Marie Perucic, Armando Peruga, Vinayak M. Prasad, Martin Raw, Cecily S. Ray, Lyn Reed, Bung-on Ritthiphakdee, Hana Ross, Jennifer Ruger, Henry Saffer, Genevieve Sansone, Natalie Sansone, Fatwa Sari Tetra Dewi, Kerstin Schotte, Omar Shafey, Yoon-Jeong Shin, Giorgio Sincovich, John Tauras, Mark Travers, Édouard Tursan d’Espaignet, Marco Vargas, Mandeep K. Virk-Baker, Corné van Walbeek, Charles W. Warren, Marzenna Anna Weresa, Xin Xu, Eduard Zaloshnja, Lei Zhang, Ping Zhan

Networking competence and its impact on the employability of knowledge workers

Purpose: Studies show that employability is fast becoming a significant subject when managing contemporary careers. Indeed, employee networking is a prerequisite for career success, but the literature lacks findings regarding the impact of networking on employability. Meanwhile, network organizations in the knowledge economy are gaining popularity and bringing rise to the number of knowledge workers in the labor force. The purpose of this paper is to show the impact of employee networking competence on the employability of knowledge workers, particularly in the wider context of network organizations. Design/methodology/approach: In order to verify our theoretical model, data was collected among a controlled sample of 1189 knowledge workers using a Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) surveying technique. Our model was verified through a series of structural equation models (SEM). Findings: Results show positive effects of network organizations and knowledge work on the networking competence of knowledge workers. The employability of knowledge workers does not just increase as these workers perform high-quality knowledge work. In order for employability to rise, knowledge workers must also exhibit networking competence. However, our study findings show that networking competence plays only a mediating role in the employability of knowledge workers. Originality/value: This study focuses on the employability of knowledge workers in network organizations, which is an increasingly important concept for contemporary management. The paper contributes to the literature through its furthering of network and career management theories

A cluster analysis of risk factors for cancer across EU countries: Health policy recommendations for prevention

Cancer burden in the European Union (EU) is increasing and has stimulated the European Commission (EC) to develop strategies for cancer control. A common “one size fits all” prevention policy may not be effective in reducing cancer morbidity and mortality. The goal of this paper is to show that EU member states are not homogenous in terms of their exposure to risk factors for cancer (i.e., lifestyle, socio-economic status (SES), air pollution, and vaccination). Data from a variety of sources including Eurostat, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the European Health Interview Survey, Eurobarometer, and the European Environment Agency were merged across years 2013-2015 and used to develop a cluster analysis. This work identified four patterns of cancer prevention behaviors in the EU thus making it possible to group EU members states into four distinct country clusters including: sports-engaged countries, tobacco and pollutant exposed nations, unhealthy lifestyle countries, and a stimulant-enjoying cluster of countries. This paper finds that there is a need for closer collaboration among EU countries belonging to the same cluster in order to share best practices regarding health policy measures that might improve cancer control interventions locally and across the EU

Understanding regional risk factors for cancer: A cluster analysis of lifestyle, environment and socio-economic status in Poland

To date, no results have been published regarding cluster analysis of risk factors for cancer in Poland. Many cancer deaths are preventable through the modification of cancer risk behaviours. This study explores the multidisciplinary connection between lifestyle, environment and socio-economic status (SES). Cluster analyses indicate that major metropolitan areas and large industrial regions differ significantly in terms of SES, lifestyle and environment when compared with other parts of Poland. Our findings show that in order for interventions to be effective, cancer-prevention policy should be addressed on both local and national scales. While anti-cancer policies in Poland’s industrial regions should focus on air pollution, the country’s northern regions should aim to curb smoking, increase sports activity and improve SES. Policy interventions must target the root causes of cancer in each region of Poland and must account for SES

Unhealthy behavior clustering and mental health status in United States college students

Objective: Examine the association of health risk behavior clusters with mental health status among US college students. Participants: 105,781 US college students who completed the Spring 2011 National College Health Assessment. Methods: We utilized the latent class analysis to determine clustering of health risk behaviors (alcohol binge drinking, cigarette/marijuana use, insufficient physical activity, and fruit/vegetable consumption), and chi-square and ANOVA analyses to examine associations between the class membership and mental health (mental health diagnoses, psychological symptoms, and self-injurious thoughts/behaviors). Results: Three classes were identified with differing rates of binge drinking, substance use, and insufficient physical activity but similar rates of insufficient fruit/vegetable consumption. Students classified with the highest rates of binge drinking and cigarette/marijuana use had the highest rates across all mental health variables compared to other classes. Conclusions: Students who reported engaging in multiple health risk behaviors, especially high alcohol and cigarette/marijuana use, were also more likely to report poorer mental health

Unhealthy behavior clustering and mental health status in United States college students

Objective: Examine the association of health risk behavior clusters with mental health status among US college students. Participants: 105,781 US college students who completed the Spring 2011 National College Health Assessment. Methods: We utilized the latent class analysis to determine clustering of health risk behaviors (alcohol binge drinking, cigarette/marijuana use, insufficient physical activity, and fruit/vegetable consumption), and chi-square and ANOVA analyses to examine associations between the class membership and mental health (mental health diagnoses, psychological symptoms, and self-injurious thoughts/behaviors). Results: Three classes were identified with differing rates of binge drinking, substance use, and insufficient physical activity but similar rates of insufficient fruit/vegetable consumption. Students classified with the highest rates of binge drinking and cigarette/marijuana use had the highest rates across all mental health variables compared to other classes. Conclusions: Students who reported engaging in multiple health risk behaviors, especially high alcohol and cigarette/marijuana use, were also more likely to report poorer mental health

Electronic nicotine delivery systems: use, knowledge, and attitudes among diverse college students

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) use among nonusers in diverse college students. Participants: Participants were college students enrolled at a Hispanic-Serving University in Chicago, IL, USA in December 2017. Methods: An online survey was administered using questions about ENDS-use behaviors, device characteristics, and knowledge of their own device, and ENDS attitudes. ENDS attitudes included questions about health, susceptibility, and quit characteristics. Results: The prevalence rate of ENDS use was 7%, and 39% of ENDS users identified all device characteristics. Nonusers categorize ENDS as a healthier alternative to cigarettes and as quit devices. Finally, cigarette use, age, health factor, and social proximity are correlated with ENDS susceptibility. Conclusions: These ENDS users lack awareness of their devices and tobacco use plays a key role in ENDS susceptibility. Future studies should continue to study the role ENDS has in dependence and cigarette use

Architecture of the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative – A Partnership Delivering Transformative Cancer Health Equity Research, Education and Community Engagement

Reducing cancer health inequities requires transformation of longstanding structures, including ways of ‘doing business’ and other deeply rooted traditions that perpetuate social injustice. We posit that moving the needle toward cancer health equity requires the building of large-scale partnerships with the infrastructure and reach to reshape the architecture defining how education, training, and research are conducted. It is with this vision that the Chicago Cancer Health Equity Collaborative (ChicagoCHEC) was conceived in response to a call for proposals by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2015 that sought applications for a partnership across a NCI designated comprehensive cancer center and up to two institutions serving underserved health disparitypopulations and underrepresented students. ChicagoCHEC was conceived as a tri-institutional partnership comprised of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, a NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center which serves a diverse nine county catchment area, Northeastern Illinois University, a minority-serving institution known for its connection to minority students, and the University of Illinois Cancer Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), a minority-serving institution and leader in community-focused cancer care and disparities research. Established in 2016, ChicagoCHEC is comprised of four functionally distinct cores that together serve the mission of advancing cancer health equity through meaningful scientific discovery, education, training, and community engagement. The successful functioning of of ChicagoCHEC is evident from the fruits borne by the partnership in research, education, and community engagement toward the goal of eradicating cancer health inequities