Annual Report 2017

Division of Tobacco Policy Research

Fumihiko Wakao, Itsuro Yoshimi, Tomoyasu Hirano, Yuriko Nishikawa

Introduction

 The death toll attributable to tobacco use is a manmade disaster worldwide; however, many countries have successfully shown that such death toll is avoidable with effective tobacco control regulations. Thus, to achieve the global standard for tobacco policies, our missions are research activities and advocacies based on the following four pillars: Monitoring and Evaluation, Development and Research of Practical Programs, Public Education and Information Services, and Promoting Policies and Networking. Especially, those activities are important because the Japanese Government tried to revise the Health Promotion Act strengthening measures for secondhand-smoking exposure prevention toward the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

Routine and Research activities

1. Through the government commissioned projects, we collected information about the implementation status of the WHO FCTC (World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) Parties. Analysis and evaluation were carried out by providing a study panel.

2. We continued participatory workshops with elementary school children on tobacco with respect to cancer education, in line with the "Tobacco Free Kids Japan" program. In 2017, we carried out a new test program in Tokyo.

3. We continued a scheme that combined supervision for private companies with permission to use the trademark for the quitline service program.

4. Through providing information and planning assistance to various societies, non-governmental organizations, and prefectural government departments related to tobacco and so forth, we carried out networking and capacity development.

5. We developed a training program of cessation support for nurse and did a trial with Kyoto Nursing Association. And we carried out seminars for health insurers to promote planning for tobacco control, especially cessation support, within related organizations.

List of papers published in January 2017 - March 2018

Journal

1. Hirano T, Tabuchi T, Nakahara R, Kunugita N, Mochizuki-Kobayashi Y. Electronic Cigarette Use and Smoking Abstinence in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study of Quitting Methods. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 14:E202, 2017