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Health Promotion Journal of Australia Health Promotion Journal of Australia Society
Journal of the Australian Health Promotion Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Smoking status and associated factors among male Chinese restaurant workers in metropolitan Sydney

Wei Jiang A , Brenda Leung B , Nancy Tam B , Huilan Xu A , Suzanne Gleeson A and Li Ming Wen A C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Health Promotion Unit, Sydney Local Health District, Level 9 North, KGV Building, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.

B Health Promotion Service, Directorate of Planning, Population Health and Equity, GPO Box 1614, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia.

C School of Public Health, Edward Ford Building (A27), University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: lmwen@email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 28(1) 72-76 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE15136
Submitted: 26 November 2015  Accepted: 24 March 2016   Published: 16 June 2016

Abstract

Issue addressed: The smoking rate among male Chinese migrants in Australia is higher than among the general population. This study investigated the smoking rate of male Chinese restaurant workers in metropolitan Sydney, and explored factors associated with smoking and quitting.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was completed by Chinese workers in selected Chinese restaurants in metropolitan Sydney from October–December 2012. Eighty-nine Chinese restaurants were approached and 54 (61%) took part in the study. The questionnaire asked participants about their smoking status, knowledge of and attitudes to smoking and quitting as well as socio-demographic information. Multivariable logistic regression was built to assess the associated factors.

Results: Of the 382 participants who completed the survey, 171 (45%) were current smokers and 50% of current smokers wanted to quit smoking. Participants who spoke Mandarin, had lower English proficiency, did not realise environmental smoke harms children, did not prefer a smoke-free environment or had more than 50% of relatives or friends who smoked were more likely to be current smokers. Participants who were aged 18–29 years, did not understand the benefits of quitting smoking or did not prefer a smoke-free environment were less likely to want to quit.

Conclusions: Nearly 50% of male Chinese restaurant workers surveyed in this study were current smokers. Key factors associated with the participants’ smoking or quitting status are: aged 18–29 years; speaking Mandarin; lower English literacy; and not knowing the dangers of smoking.

So what?: Tobacco control programs targetted at male Chinese restaurant workers that raise awareness of the harm caused by smoking and the benefits of quitting smoking are required to enhance intention to quit smoking within this population.

Key words: health promotion; intention to quit; quitting.


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