Tobacco control in 30 European countries from 2005 to 2007 with an update in 2010

[EN] In this article the results of the surveys about the tobacco control activity in European countries made in 2005 and 2007–using the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS)– are described. The most effective tobacco control measures are: the high taxes, the prohibition of advertising, the laws prohibiting tobacco use in working places and the sanitary warnings on tobacco packets. In the conclusions, the changes in several European countries since 2004 are analyzed to measure the improvement of tobacco policies.[ES] En este artículo se comparan los resultados de las investigaciones sobre el control del tabaco realizadas en Europa en 2005 y 2007 mediante el uso de la Escala de Control del Tabaco (TCS). Entre los métodos más eficaces para el control del tabaco destacan el aumento de impuestos, la prohibición de la publicidad, las leyes que prohíben el consumo de tabaco en los lugares de trabajo y las advertencias sanitarias en las cajetillas. En las conclusiones se analizan los cambios experimentados desde 2004 en diferentes países europeos para medir su mejora en relación con las políticas sobre el tabaco.[EU] Europan 2005 eta 2007 bitartean, Tabakoaren Eskala Kontrol (TCS) baten bidez neurtutako tabakoaren kontrolari buruzko ikerketen ondorioak agertzen dira artikulu honetan. Tabakoaren kontrolerako neurri erangikorren artean zergen igoera, publizitatearen debekua, lan esparruan tabakoaren kontsumoa debekatzen duten legeak eta tabako paketeetako osasun abisuak nabarmentzen dira. Ondorioetan, 2004. urtetik aurrera europako herrialdeetan eman diren aldaketak aztertzen dira, tabakoaren arloko politiken hobekuntza neurtzeko.[FR] Dans cet article on compare les résultats des recherches sur le contrôle du tabac menées en Europe en 2005 et 2007 en utilisant l’Échelle de Contrôle du Tabac (TCS). Parmi les méthodes les plus efficaces pour le contrôle du tabac il faut souligner l’augmentation des impôts, l’interdiction de la publicité, les lois interdisant la consommation du tabac dans les lieux de travail et les avertissements sanitaires dans les paquets de tabac. Pour conclure, l’auteur analyse les changements expérimentés depuis 2004 dans les différents pays européens pour évaluer leur amélioration par rapport aux politiques sur le tabac

Tobacco control in 30 European countries from 2005 to 2007 with an update in 2010

[EN] In this article the results of the surveys about the tobacco control activity in European countries made in 2005 and 2007–using the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS)– are described. The most effective tobacco control measures are: the high taxes, the prohibition of advertising, the laws prohibiting tobacco use in working places and the sanitary warnings on tobacco packets. In the conclusions, the changes in several European countries since 2004 are analyzed to measure the improvement of tobacco policies.[ES] En este artículo se comparan los resultados de las investigaciones sobre el control del tabaco realizadas en Europa en 2005 y 2007 mediante el uso de la Escala de Control del Tabaco (TCS). Entre los métodos más eficaces para el control del tabaco destacan el aumento de impuestos, la prohibición de la publicidad, las leyes que prohíben el consumo de tabaco en los lugares de trabajo y las advertencias sanitarias en las cajetillas. En las conclusiones se analizan los cambios experimentados desde 2004 en diferentes países europeos para medir su mejora en relación con las políticas sobre el tabaco.[EU] Europan 2005 eta 2007 bitartean, Tabakoaren Eskala Kontrol (TCS) baten bidez neurtutako tabakoaren kontrolari buruzko ikerketen ondorioak agertzen dira artikulu honetan. Tabakoaren kontrolerako neurri erangikorren artean zergen igoera, publizitatearen debekua, lan esparruan tabakoaren kontsumoa debekatzen duten legeak eta tabako paketeetako osasun abisuak nabarmentzen dira. Ondorioetan, 2004. urtetik aurrera europako herrialdeetan eman diren aldaketak aztertzen dira, tabakoaren arloko politiken hobekuntza neurtzeko.[FR] Dans cet article on compare les résultats des recherches sur le contrôle du tabac menées en Europe en 2005 et 2007 en utilisant l’Échelle de Contrôle du Tabac (TCS). Parmi les méthodes les plus efficaces pour le contrôle du tabac il faut souligner l’augmentation des impôts, l’interdiction de la publicité, les lois interdisant la consommation du tabac dans les lieux de travail et les avertissements sanitaires dans les paquets de tabac. Pour conclure, l’auteur analyse les changements expérimentés depuis 2004 dans les différents pays européens pour évaluer leur amélioration par rapport aux politiques sur le tabac

Environmental Health Organisations against Tobacco

Implementing the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) relies heavily on enforcement. Little is known of the way different enforcement agencies operate, prioritise or network. A questionnaire was sent to representatives of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in 36 countries. Tobacco control was given low priority. Almost two thirds did not have any tobacco control policy. A third reported their organisation had worked with other agencies on tobacco control. Obstacles to addressing tobacco control included a lack of resources (61%) and absence of a coherent strategy (39%)

Using Devolution to Set the Agenda? Venue shift and the smoking ban in Scotland

This article examines the changing agendas on smoking-related issues in Scotland. It charts the methods that groups, governments and MSPs use to frame and pursue or suppress discussion of the prohibition of smoking in public places. The article presents two narratives-one which stresses ‘new politics' and the ability of groups to influence policy through Scottish Parliamentary procedures, and another which stresses Scottish Executive ‘business as usual' and presents smoking legislation as a logical progression from early ministerial commitments. A combination of narratives suggests that tobacco legislation in Scotland was by no means part of an inevitable international trend towards prohibition and this article traces the precise conditions or ‘policy windows' in which decisions take place. The discussion highlights the often unsettled nature of the devolution settlement and the ability of Scottish issues to influence UK agendas

Smoking trends among adolescents from 1990 to 2002 in ten European countries and Canada

BACKGROUND: Daily smoking adolescents are a public health problem as they are more likely to become adult smokers and to develop smoking-related health problems later on in their lives. METHODS: The study is part of the four-yearly, cross-national Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, a school-based survey on a nationally representative sample using a standardised methodology. Data of 4 survey periods are available (1990–2002). Gender-specific daily smoking trends among 14–15 year olds are examined using logistic regressions. Sex ratios are calculated for each survey period and country. Interaction effects between period and gender are examined. RESULTS: Daily smoking prevalence in boys in 2002 ranges from 5.5% in Sweden to 20.0% in Latvia. Among girls, the daily smoking prevalence in 2002 ranges from 8.9% in Poland to 24.7% in Austria. Three daily smoking trend groups are identified: countries with a declining or stagnating trend, countries with an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend, and countries with an increasing trend. These trend groups show a geographical pattern, but are not linked to smoking prevalence. Over the 4 surveys, the sex ratio has changed in Belgium, Switzerland, and Latvia. CONCLUSION: Among adolescents in Europe, three groups of countries in a different stage of the smoking epidemic curve can be identified, with girls being in an earlier stage than boys. In 2002, large differences in smoking prevalence between the countries have been observed. This predicts a high mortality due to smoking over 20–30 years for some countries, if no policy interventions are taken

Support for smoke-free policies in the Cyprus hospitality industry

Objectives The present study used attitudinal and behavioural indicators to measure support for smoke-free policies among employers and employees in the hospitality industry in Cyprus. Methods A representative sample of 600 participants (95 % response rate) completed anonymous structured questionnaires on demographic variables, smoking status, exposure to second-hand smoke at work and related health beliefs, social norms, and smoke-free policy support. Results Participants were predominantly males (68.3 %), with a mean age of 40 years (SD = 12.69), and 39.7 % were employers/owners of the hospitality venue. Analysis of variance showed that employers and smokers were less supportive of smoke-free policies, as compared to employees and non-smokers. Linear regression models showed that attitudes towards smoke-free policy were predicted by smoking status, SHS exposure and related health beliefs, and social norm variables. Logistic regression analysis showed that willingness to confront a policy violator was predicted by SHS exposure, perceived prevalence of smoker clients, and smoke-free policy attitudes. Conclusions SHS exposure and related health beliefs, and normative factors should be targeted by interventions aiming to promote policy support in the hospitality industry in Cyprus

A 'Multiple Lenses' Approach to Policy Change: the Case of Tobacco Policy in the UK

This article examines a period of rapid policy change following decades of stability in UK tobacco. It seeks to account for such a long period of policy stability, to analyse and qualify the extent of change, and to explain change using a 'multiple lenses' approach. It compares the explanatory value of policy network models such as punctuated equilibrium and the advocacy coalition framework, with models stressing change from 'above and below' such as multi-level governance and policy transfer. A key finding is that the value of these models varies according to the narrative of policy change that we select. The article challenges researchers to be careful about assuming the nature of policy change before embarking on explanation. While the findings of the case study may vary with other policy areas in British politics, the call for clarity and lessons from multiple approaches are widely applicable

Durvalumab Plus Carboplatin/Paclitaxel Followed by Maintenance Durvalumab With or Without Olaparib as First-Line Treatment for Advanced Endometrial Cancer: The Phase III DUO-E Trial

PURPOSE Immunotherapy and chemotherapy combinations have shown activity in endometrial cancer, with greater benefit in mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient (dMMR) than MMR-proficient (pMMR) disease. Adding a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor may improve outcomes, especially in pMMR disease. METHODS This phase III, global, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomly assigned eligible patients with newly diagnosed advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer 1:1:1 to: carboplatin/paclitaxel plus durvalumab placebo followed by placebo maintenance (control arm); carboplatin/paclitaxel plus durvalumab followed by maintenance durvalumab plus olaparib placebo (durvalumab arm); or carboplatin/paclitaxel plus durvalumab followed by maintenance durvalumab plus olaparib (durvalumab + olaparib arm). The primary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) in the durvalumab arm versus control and the durvalumab + olaparib arm versus control. RESULTS Seven hundred eighteen patients were randomly assigned. In the intention-to-treat population, statistically significant PFS benefit was observed in the durvalumab (hazard ratio [HR], 0.71 [95% CI, 0.57 to 0.89]; P = .003) and durvalumab + olaparib arms (HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.43 to 0.69]; P < .0001) versus control. Prespecified, exploratory subgroup analyses showed PFS benefit in dMMR (HR [durvalumab v control], 0.42 [95% CI, 0.22 to 0.80]; HR [durvalumab + olaparib v control], 0.41 [95% CI, 0.21 to 0.75]) and pMMR subgroups (HR [durvalumab v control], 0.77 [95% CI, 0.60 to 0.97]; HR [durvalumab + olaparib v control] 0.57; [95% CI, 0.44 to 0.73]); and in PD-L1-positive subgroups (HR [durvalumab v control], 0.63 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.83]; HR [durvalumab + olaparib v control], 0.42 [95% CI, 0.31 to 0.57]). Interim overall survival results (maturity approximately 28%) were supportive of the primary outcomes (durvalumab v control: HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.56 to 1.07]; P = .120; durvalumab + olaparib v control: HR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.83]; P = .003). The safety profiles of the experimental arms were generally consistent with individual agents. CONCLUSION Carboplatin/paclitaxel plus durvalumab followed by maintenance durvalumab with or without olaparib demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful PFS benefit in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer