PUBLIC OPINION ON TOBACCO CONTROL POLICIES IN RESTAURANTS IN ISFAHAN, IRAN

Background – Evidence on the provision of smoke-free areas in restaurants is mainly derived from studies in industrialized countries. Evidence from industrializing countries is required for planning a well-coordinated approach to the public health problem of tobacco-related disease in these countries. Methods – To assess public opinion on tobacco control policies in restaurants, a populationbased, cross-sectional, random digit-dialing telephone survey was carried out from November 2002 through January 2003. Eight-hundred and ninety-seven randomly selected subjects age 15 years or above were included in the study. Results – Ninety-four point nine percent of respondents (95% confidence interval [CI] 93.5 to 96.4) supported a total smoking ban in restaurants. Reported experiences of discomfort or symptoms from second-hand smoke in restaurants were common. The majority of respondents (60.9%; 95% CI 57.7 to 64.1) anticipated an increase in their frequency of use of restaurants after a total ban. No change in frequency of patronage was predicted by 37.9% of respondents (95% CI 34.7 to 41.1), whereas only 0.7% (95% CI 0.3 to 1.5) stated that they would dine out less often. In multivariate analyses, nonsmokers (adjusted odds ratio 3.2 [95% CI 1.3 to 7.5]) were more likely to support a total smoking ban in restaurants. Conclusion – This first comprehensive survey in Iran shows a strong community support for smoke-free dining.