Executive Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations
Recommendations
On the basis of the research findings a number of recommendations can be made which are relevant to funding bodies, policy makers and local, regional and national organisations working to reduce tobacco use in Scotland.
Cessation Services
- Local cessation services should be actively encouraged to ensure they are visible and the services they provide are appropriate to and accessible by the BME communities.
- Information on pharmacological aids particularly Zyban and Nicotine Replacement Therapy needs to be more appropriately disseminated to the BME communities.
- Cessation advice materials should be developed in community languages.
- Information about the Asian Quitlines should be disseminated to BME communities in Scotland.
- Smokeline should be reviewed to ensure it is meeting the needs of the BME communities.
- Individual community members, BME community workers, representatives of the medical profession and religious institutions such as Mosques and Temples should be invited on the Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (STCA) to allow them to influence and shape policy at a national and local level.
Staff Training
- Organisations working in tobacco control should encourage, explore and develop training courses and other training opportunities for both BME groups and organisations working with the BME communities. Particularly in causal effects of smoking, passive smoking, smoking cessation services the use and availability of pharmacological aids (Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Zyban).
- Information and advice on developing tobacco policies should be made to BME organisations.
Development of Prevention Material and Resources
- There is a need to work in conjunction with organisations and individuals sensitive to BME issues to develop posters, leaflets and other educational material particularly on the basic facts of smoking, risks of passive smoking, the hooka and paan. In developing these materials and resources sensitivity should be given to religious and cultural issues and the different forms of tobacco present in these communities.
- In order to maximise distribution to those members not literate in English, relevant material should be translated into Cantonese, Punjabi and Urdu (other languages should be considered if a need is established) and should include visual representation to reflect the different ethnic groups prevalent in society.
Mass Media
- Mass media campaigns should reflect the diverse nature of the Scottish population.
- Appropriately tailored (ethnic representation) television advertising should be aired during slots likely to have high BME ratings and on non-terrestrial channels (Chinese, Pakistani and Indian channels) catering specifically for BME groups.
- Community media should be used to disseminate messages, such as articles in BME newspapers and magazines and advertising slots on radio stations such as Apna Radio and Radio Ramadan.
Manufacture and labelling of tobacco products
- The packaging of Paan should include health warnings.
Further Research
- There is a need for baseline statistics on smoking prevalence and patterns of tobacco use among the BME communities in Scotland. However, it must be noted that the collation of baseline statistics itself can be distorted, as self reported smoking prevalence would be shaped by religious and cultural practices.
- More specifically, research to identify the extent in variations of tobacco use among the BME communities is required.
- Research should be undertaken to establish the prevalence and nature of covert smoking practices and to what extent gender distinction exists.
- The use of self-support identified in this research requires further investigation to clarify and establish to what extent it prevails within BME communities
Executive Summary
Conclusions
Recommendations
Go to 'Previous Work' page
Click on the 'Inequalities' link in the left hand menu to go to the Inequalities section.
Last updated: 15 July 2009