Abstract Prior research has suggested that a set of unique characteristics may be associated with adult cigarette smokers who are able to quit smoking using e-cigarettes (vaping). In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify and rank the impor

Abstract Introduction Cigarette smoking remains more common among individuals with depression. This study investigates whether cigarette quit ratios and cigarette use prevalence have changed differentially by depression status during the past decade.

Abstract Background The prevalence of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults has increased markedly in recent years; however, little is known about young people’s perceptions of e-cigarette addiction. This study examines factors associated with

This Project News update provides an overview of recent work produced under a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Research on E-Cigarettes and Waterpipe Health System Research Fund, including: Abstracts of four articles tha

Abstract Objectives The province of Ontario, Canada, banned the use of menthol-flavoured tobacco products as of 1 January 2017. The long-term impact of a menthol ban on smoking behaviour has not been previously evaluated. Methods Population cohort st

OTRU continues to generate new knowledge to inform cessation policies and practices through the Research on Advancing Cessation Treatment (REACT) study. This newsletter highlights the findings from the ongoing knowledge synthesis, baseline survey for

While vaping, or e-cigarette use, might help adults quit smoking, the rapid uptake of these products by youth is alarming and raises concerns about the net public health benefit of vaping. OTRU’s RECIG-WP project conducted focus groups to gather insi

The use of e-cigarettes—or vaping to quit—has become one of the most frequently used cessation methods among smokers trying to quit smoking cigarettes. In 2017, 32% of current or former smokers in Canada reported using an e-cigarette as a cessation a

Abstract Objective: Although most research on drugs and driving has focused on the use of alcohol and cannabis, research that has been conducted on cigarette smoking and collisions has found that smokers have an increased collision involvement. Studi

Abstract Research has shown that tobacco users have an increased risk of collisions compared to nonsmokers. Studies from 1967 through 2013 documented a crude relative risk of collision involvement of about 1.5 among smokers compared to nonsmokers. In

Abstract Background and Challenges to Implementation: Formative research suggested that many stakeholders do not have ready access to reliable and up-to-date information on population survey results due to a variety or reasons including knowledge, pe

Tobacco cessation interventions by healthcare providers have been shown to significantly increase cessation rates. Three surveys were conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2017 to explore the state of tobacco cessation practices and services in the Central Wes

Despite declining prevalence of smoking in Ontario in the last few decades, rates of smoking cessation have not increased significantly in the last few years. OTRU will conduct Research on Advancing Cessation Treatment (REACT) to study the urgent nee

Abstract Context: Evidence of the effect of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in public health and valid tools to judge that such effects are not fully formed. Objective: The objective was to adapt and apply Shortell et al.’s (1998) four dim

Abstract Context: Evidence of the effect of continuous quality improvement (CQI) in public health and valid tools to judge that such effects are not fully formed. Objective: The objective was to adapt and apply Shortell et al.’s (1998) four dim

The Canadian government may be preparing regulations for plain and standardized packaging of cigarette products. This OTRU update examines the level of public support for plain packaging in Ontario, which is among the highest in the world. This high

With limited population-level research, myths about smoking cessation persist. Research from the Ontario Tobacco Survey (OTS) has improved our understanding of smoking cessation in the general population. Key facts and findings are summarized, includ

Tobacco control mass media campaigns are a key element of comprehensive tobacco control strategies. Over the past decade, 94% of Ontario smokers were exposed to tobacco control mass media, general tobacco media stories, or pharmaceutical ads. Exposur

Ontario has a diverse population with one third born outside Canada but little is known about how living in an immigrant neighbourhood affects smoking. Data from OTRU finds that Ontario smokers from neighbourhoods with high proportions of immigrants

Key Findings: Past 30-day use of various tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff or chewing tobacco, but not including waterpipe and electronic cigarettes) reported by Ontarians aged 12 years or older was 20% – statistically lowe

Social cohesion is “the extent of connectedness and solidarity among groups in society”. In Ontario, high social cohesion increased the odds of making a quit attempt regardless of whether smokers lived in deprived or affluent neighbourhoods. Ontario

In Canada, 9.1% of adult smokers are 65 years of age or older. They tend to be longer-term smokers, often with various health concerns and greater health care costs than nonsmokers their age. The majority of older smokers in Ontario are trying to qui

This newsletter focuses on the results from the health effects and patterns of use knowledge syntheses, analysis of Ontario survey data as well as preliminary results of the Adult Longitudinal Panel 6-month follow-up survey.

This update provides a snapshot of two current projects supported by OTRU’s Knowledge and Evaluation Support Team: Monitoring the Integration of the 5As Approach to Cessation in Central West Ontario, and Tobacco Vendor Education: A Needs Assessment i

Many researchers use a definition of quit attempt that requires any attempt at cessation to last longer than 24 hours. Using data from OTRU’s Ontario Tobacco Survey, this update examines factors associated with making quit attempts that last more tha

This newsletter, the fourth in a series from OTRU’s Research on E-Cigarettes (RECIG) project, focuses on the results of youth and young adult interviews and provides an update on RECIG’s Adult and the Youth and Young Adult Surveys.

This newsletter about the Research on Non-Traditional Tobacco Reduction in Aboriginal Communities (RETRAC) project includes an update on research being conducted with exemplar communities and community-based research with Aboriginal communities in On

The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU), in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), has undertaken a multi-component research study of e-cigarettes. This project newsletter provides an update on our social media analysis,

Abstract: In 2010, Waterloo Region Housing (Canada) enacted a smoke-free (SF) housing policy that made all new leases in their community-housing portfolio (2722 units) 100 % SF. Existing lease holders were ‘grandfathered’—meaning tenants could still

Research shows that smokers who use quit aids such as pharmacotherapies and behavioral support are more likely to be successful in smoking cessation than smokers who do not use quit aids. This update explores factors related to use and trends in the

The second in a series of four newsletters from OTRU’s Research on E-Cigarettes (RECIG) Project highlights initial findings from the project’s knowledge synthesis, a study of the effects of e-cigarettes on cue-Induced craving, analysis of national su

Abstract Background: As regulation of tobacco products tightens, there are concerns that illicit markets may develop to supply restricted products. However, there are few validated measures to assess attitudes or purchase intentions toward contraband

Research demonstrates that many factors are associated with contraband tobacco use, including: easy access, misconceptions about “legal” purchase of cigarettes from First Nations’ Reserves, insufficient enforcement and penalties, and organized crimin

This first OTRU RECIG newsletter provides updates on three ongoing RECIG study components: an ongoing knowledge synthesis; a report of findings from the most recent Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey; and an upcoming social media analysis. Th

The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report finds tobacco use among grade 12 youth remains steady at 6%, but smoking use among young adults remains high. These are some of the findings highlighted in this year’s Strategy Monitoring Report. This

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publication: 2014 Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monit

There is strong evidence from randomized control trials that cessation medication can help people quit smoking; however, real world studies of smoking cessation aid effectiveness have shown mixed results. Using data from the Ontario Tobacco Survey, t

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a long standing public health issue. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act protects many Ontarians from exposure to SHS in enclosed public places and workplaces including restaurants and bars, casinos, in vehicles, and in t

Abstract: Context: Selection of priority groups is important for health interventions. However, no quantitative method has been developed. Objectives: To develop a quantitative method to support the process of selecting priority groups for public hea

This update provides a brief overview of smoking prevalence and exposure to secondhand smoke in Ontario based on the findings of the recently released 2013 Canadian Community Health Survey. The last significant change in smoking prevalence was betwee