The citywide smoking ban has motivated young smokers to quit the habit, but more support for an effective smoking cessation program is needed, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) said yesterday.

The HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine carried out a telephone survey to study the smoking behavior among youngsters and their intention to quit smoking before and after the extension of the smoking ban.

The legislation - Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance - was implemented on Jan 1, 2007 under which smoking in most indoor workplaces, public places, universities, schools, public transport interchanges, beaches, parks, and on escalators is prohibited.

In Aug 2005, the HKU established the Youth Quitline to offer counseling services to smokers who want to quit.

A total of 304 smokers aged 12 to 25 who sought help through the hotline between Aug 2005 and Sept 2007 were selected for the study.

The study found a large increase in the number of calls for help after the amended law came into effect, and many non-smokers have called to seek information in the later part of the study period.

"This reflects an increasing pressure for smokers to quit the habit after the expanded smoking ban came into effect. It also shows a shift in social norm about smoking and quitting," department head of nursing studies Sophia Chan Siu-chee said.

In addition, the average daily cigarette consumption of the studied callers after Jan 1 plummeted to 10.1 from 12.2.

About 52 percent of callers phoning in after the expanded ban expressed strong intention to quit smoking, although they found it difficult to accomplish, especially when they were angry, depressed and under pressure.

"This reveals that smokers who want to quit need help to raise their self-efficacy," Chan said.

The study also observed a sharp decline in the number of callers few months after the smoking ban expanded. Chan attributed this to the lack of government support for a persistent publicity campaign.

Smokers and their families realized the need to quit but their enthusiasm subsided after some time, she added.

"Government support for smoking cessation is severely insufficient," said Homer Tso, chairman of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health.

The HKU said a comprehensive measure should include sufficient smoking cessation support and an increase in tobacco tax.

Tso suggested adopting the recommendation of the World Health Organization that tobacco tax should constitute two-third of the cost of a pack of cigarettes.

It is important to help teenagers quit smoking as it would be too late for them to know the harm when they get older, Tso added.

"We have been trying to promote a smoke-free culture in Hong Kong through legislation and tobacco tax for years," the Department of Health said. "We will continue to strengthen our anti-smoking campaigns and smoking cessation services."

(HK Edition 02/22/2008 page1)