Changes in the smoking status of primary care professionals and their association with rates of tobacco treatment delivery: the TiTAN Greece & Cyprus tobacco dependence treatment training programme.

Aim: This study examines the impact of a continuing medical education (CME) intervention on smoking cessation among primary-care professionals (PCPs) and explores the relationship between PCP smoking status and patient tobacco-treatment delivery.

Background: High rates of tobacco use among PCPs have been reported in several European countries. PCPs who smoke are less motivated to provide cessation support to their patients.

Exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarettes and secondhand aerosol from tobacco and nicotine products in indoor and outdoor public spaces in the European Union: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: In December 2024, the Council of the European Union (EU) adopted a recommendation to expand regulations on the use of nicotine-containing products both in indoor settings and specific outdoor areas. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic factors associated with exposure to conventional tobacco smoke and aerosols across the EU and support for relevant regulations.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Special Eurobarometer 99.

Mapping indicators of tobacco and related product use: Unveiling challenges and variations in the Eurobarometer surveys over three decades.

Introduction: The European Commission's Special Eurobarometer surveys on tobacco are widely used as comparable and representative data across the European Union for monitoring consumption patterns. Despite their broad use, certain challenges persist, including inconsistencies in survey timelines and variations in the collected information across waves. This study aims to identify available tobacco and related product indicators, and assess their temporal comparability, to support researchers to better understand the potential uses of these data and their alignment with other sources.

On the extension of the use of a standard operating procedure for nicotine, glycerol and propylene glycol analysis in e-liquids using mass spectrometry.

Introduction: Standard operating procedures (SOP), accessible to several laboratories, are essential for product verification. EU-JATC (European-Joint Action on Tobacco Control) SOP and the WHO TobLabNet (World Health Organization Tobacco Laboratories Network) SOP (SOP11) are available standard methodologies to measure nicotine, glycerol, and propylene glycol, and propose mass spectrometer (MS) as an alternative method to flame ionization detector (FID). This study conducted a comparison between FID and MS concentration results, following the MS method described in SOP11.

Support for regulating smoking in private and public places by adults who currently smoke and recently quit smoking in Spain.

Introduction: While indoor smoking restrictions are common, outdoor restrictions are still rare. We explored opinions and support for regulating smoking in different indoor and outdoor environments among adults who smoke and those who recently quit smoking, in Spain.

Methods: The 2021 ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey is a cross-sectional study conducted among a nationally representative sample of 1006 adults aged ≥18 years who smoked cigarettes (n=867) or had recently quit smoking (n=139).

Incidence and Determinants of COVID-19 Among People Who Smoke (2018-2021): Findings From the ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Surveys.

Objective: To estimate the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 and its determinants among a nationally representative sample of adults from Spain who smoke.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study that uses data from two waves (Wave 2 in 2018 and Wave 3 in 2021) of the ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey. At baseline (Wave 1 in 2016), all respondents were adults (aged ≥18) who smoked.

The impact of conflict on infectious disease: a systematic literature review.

Background: Conflict situations, armed or not, have been associated with emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. This review aims to identify the pathways through which infectious diseases emerge within conflict situations and to outline appropriate infectious disease preparedness and response strategies.

Methods: A systematic review was performed representing published evidence from January 2000 to October 2023.

Gender differences in use of cigarette and non-cigarette tobacco products among adolescents aged 13-15 years in 20 African countries.

Introduction: Examining gender differences in youth tobacco use is important as it aligns tobacco control within the context of broader human development goals seeking to eliminate gender inequalities. In this study, we examined gender differences in adolescent use of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, shisha, and e-cigarettes in Africa.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

Cost of the COVID-19 pandemic versus the cost-effectiveness of mitigation strategies in EU/UK/OECD: a systematic review.

Objectives: The economic burden of COVID-19 pandemic is substantial, with both direct and indirect costs playing a significant role.

Design: A systematic literature review was conducted to estimate the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical interventions. All cost data were adjusted to the 2021 Euro, and interventions compared with null.

Social determinants of health and vaccine uptake during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

Social determinants of health significantly impact population health status. The aim of this systematic review was to examine which social vulnerability factors or determinants of health at the individual or county level affected vaccine uptake within the first phase of the vaccination program. We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published from January 2020 until September 2021 in Medline and Embase (Bagaria et al.

ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain: protocol of a prospective longitudinal study of smokers in Spain.

Objective: The ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey is a longitudinal study of a representative sample of Spanish adult (≥18 years old) smokers. This protocol describes the methods of the 2021 follow-up survey.

Method: The ITC EUREST-PLUS Survey, a prospective cohort study of a representative sample of smokers in six European countries, was conducted in 2016 (baseline) and 2018 (waves 1 and 2).

Understanding perceived addiction to and addictiveness of electronic cigarettes among electronic cigarette users: a cross-sectional analysis of the International Tobacco Control Smoking and Vaping (ITC 4CV) England Survey.

Background And Aims: The addictive potential of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) remains to be fully understood. We identified patterns and correlates of perceived addiction to e-cigarettes and perceived addictiveness of e-cigarettes relative to tobacco cigarettes (relative addictiveness) in dual users as well as exclusive e-cigarette users.

Design, Setting And Participants: Observational study using cross-sectional survey data from England (2016) from the International Tobacco Control Project (ITC) Four Country Smoking and Vaping (4CV) survey.

Systematic review of outbreaks of COVID-19 within households in the European region when the child is the index case.

Objectives: This systematic review aims to identify the secondary attack rates (SAR) to adults and other children when children are the index cases within household settings.

Methods: This literature review assessed European-based studies published in Medline and Embase between January 2020 and January 2022 that assessed the secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within household settings. The inclusion criteria were based on the Population, Exposure, Outcome framework for systematic reviews.

Prognostic factors for mortality, intensive care unit and hospital admission due to SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies in Europe.

Background: As mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is strongly age-dependent, we aimed to identify population subgroups at an elevated risk for adverse outcomes from COVID-19 using age-/gender-adjusted data from European cohort studies with the aim to identify populations that could potentially benefit from booster vaccinations.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to investigate the role of underlying medical conditions as prognostic factors for adverse outcomes due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including death, hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation within three separate settings (community, hospital and ICU). Cohort studies that reported at least age and gender-adjusted data from Europe were identified through a search of peer-reviewed articles published until 11 June 2021 in Ovid Medline and Embase.

Exposure to secondhand aerosol from electronic cigarettes at homes: A real-life study in four European countries.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use emits potentially hazardous compounds and deteriorates indoor air quality. Home is a place where e-cigarettes may frequently be used amid its increasing prohibition in public places. This study assessed the real-life scenario of bystanders' exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA) at home.

Systematic review on the non-vectorial transmission of Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv).

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infection caused by the Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv) and it is common in Europe. The virus is predominantly transmitted by ticks, but other non-vectorial modes of transmission are possible. This systematic review synthesises the epidemiological impact of non-vectorial modes of TBEv transmission in Europe.

Review of industry reports on EU priority tobacco additives part B: Methodological limitations.

The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) defines enhanced reporting obligations applying to 15 priority additives added to cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. A consortium of 12 international tobacco companies submitted 14 reports that were reviewed by an independent scientific body within the Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JATC). The reports were evaluated in accordance with the TPD with regard to their comprehensiveness, methodology and conclusions.

Review of industry reports on EU priority tobacco additives part A: Main outcomes and conclusions.

The European Union Tobacco Products Directive (EU TPD) mandates enhanced reporting obligations for tobacco manufacturers regarding 15 priority additives. Within the Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JATC), a review panel of independent experts was appointed for the scientific evaluation of the additive reports submitted by a consortium of 12 tobacco manufacturers. As required by the TPD, the reports were evaluated based on their comprehensiveness, methodology and conclusions.

Smoking is associated with altered serum and hair essential metal and metalloid levels in women.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between smoking and essential metal (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, V, Zn) and metalloid (Se) levels in hair and serum of adult women using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In this cross-sectional study, a total of 344 women 20-70 years old including 199 smokers and 145 non-smoking women were enrolled. Serum Cu, Fe, and Zn levels in smoking women were found to be 6%, 8%, and 3% lower of levels in non-smokers, respectively.