The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Many smokers believe that ‘light' cigarettes (LC) are less harmful than conventional ones. Authors aim to estimate the impact of this belief and choice of LC on smoking initiation and quitting behavior.

Methods: Data from national survey conducted in June 2005 were used.

Results: Profile of Ukrainian LC smokers is the following: they are more likely to be females and occasional smokers, younger people, more educated, living in larger cities, knowing about harm of smoking and willing to quit. People who consider LC less harmful (PCLCLH) are less aware of dangers of ETS, less frequently report household smoking restrictions, more exposed to tobacco advertising. Risk of being a new smoker (who started smoking within last ten years) was significantly higher among PCLCLH. Non-smoking PCLCLH were more likely to expect to smoke in 5 years. LC users more likely have tried to quit or willing to quit. This could be because of lower level of dependence. Besides, smokers expected that LC would help them to quit. But though percentage of those willing to quit among LC smokers was higher than among conventional cigarettes smokers (44% vs. 23%), ratio of those who really quit to those willing to quit was much higher among those who did not consider LC less harmful (43% vs. 21%). We conclude that LC help to involve new people into smoking. People willing to quit rely on LC as less harmful type of tobacco. But those not relying on LC are more successful in quitting smoking.