Awareness of Tobacco-Related Diseases among Adults in Poland: A 2022 Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Warning about the dangers of tobacco use is a key element of tobacco control policy. The COVID-19 pandemic may impact public perception of the health risks of tobacco use. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of tobacco-related diseases among adults in Poland, as well as to identify sociodemographic factors associated with awareness of tobacco-related diseases. This cross-sectional survey was carried out in March 2022 on a representative nationwide sample of 1090 adults in Poland using the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) technique. Lung cancer was the most recognized tobacco-related disease (92.7%), followed by COPD (89.7%) and myocardial infarction (84%). Three-quarters of the respondents (76.8%) were aware that smoking causes stroke and 51% were aware that smoking increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. Out of 9 factors analyzed in this study, female gender, an age of 50 years and over, and being a non-smoker were significantly associated with a higher awareness of tobacco-related diseases. This study showed an increase in public awareness of smoking-related diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. While awareness of lung cancer and COPD was very high, there are still significant gaps in the awareness of the non-respiratory effects of tobacco use.