HMC completes 80% of study on tobacco use

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Tobacco Control Centre has completed around 80% of the fieldwork associated with a national study examining knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to tobacco use in Qatar. The comprehensive study seeks input from Qatari citizens and non-Qatari residents aged 18 and above and will help identify ways to better control this harmful habit. By conducting this study, the centre aims to gather data on key indicators of smoking and tobacco use among citizens and residents in Qatar as well as information on the usage rates of various tobacco products, including cigarettes, shisha, sweika (chewing tobacco), pipes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and e-shisha.  Commenting on the study, Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, Head of the HMC Tobacco Control Centre said the main goal of the study is to examine knowledge and attitudes on tobacco use among the adult population in Qatar and to gather valuable data on the prevalence of smoking and tobacco use and the usage rates of various tobacco products. “The study will also examine the level of public awareness of the harmful effects of smoking and will highlight the importance of creating smoking-free work environments. A number of related topics, including the level of public awareness of local antismoking laws and regulations and the economic effects of smoking will also be examined,” Dr al-Mulla said.  Employees of ministries, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and universities are among those being targeted by researchers. Dr al-Mulla said the study has so far involved over 6,000 participants. “The fieldwork is expected to be completed after Ramadan, and then we will start analysing the collected data and releasing the results of the study. The results will be used to inform government policies and tobacco control public health initiatives,” added Dr al-Mulla. On behalf of the research team and the Tobacco Control Centre, Dr al-Mulla thanked all co-operating organisations and ministries for their support of the study. HMCs Tobacco Control Centre provides education, support and treatment for those wanting to stop smoking. In 2017, the Centre was designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre, the first in Qatar and the region. WHO Collaborating Centres, which also include research institutes and parts of universities and academies, are designated to carry out activities in support of the WHO’s mandated international health work.