Cigarette dependence among males and females aged 50+ living in Izmir, Turkey

Background: Smoking, the most important preventable cause of death overall, is also the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Tobacco consumption has a direct or indirect relationship with most types of cancer. In Turkey, the second leading cause of death is cancer, with lung cancer the most prevalent. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the level of cigarette dependence among men and women aged 50+, living in İzmir. Methods: This research is a descriptive and cross-sectional field study, carried out with the participation of a total of 2,497 subjects. Results: It was found that 48.8% of the participants used to be smokers, and 95.5% of the smoking participants had been smoking for at least 11 years at the time of study. 36.1% of the participants were being exposed to secondhand smoke at home, and almost one third of the smokers (29%) had a moderate level of dependence. Conclusions: Continuing education may help high-risk groups develop good habits for a healthier lifestyle such as smoking less and quitting smoking, thereby reducing the level of morbidity and mortality of most common types of cancer.