An exploratory study to assess the knowledge and attituderegarding tobacco consumption and its hazards among maleadults at selected village of moga, Punjab

Abstract

Background: Tobacco consumption remains an important preventable cause of disease, disability and premature death. Tobacco may be consumed through smoked products such as cigarettes, bidis and hookah or through smokeless products such as khaini, gutkha, zarda and tobaccocontaining preparations. In India, smokeless tobacco is particularly important, and rural men constitute an important population for tobacco prevention and cessation work. The Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2016–2017 estimated that 28.6% of adults aged 15 years and above used tobacco, while the national data showed substantial use among men. WHO describes tobacco as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and multiple cancers and emphasises that all forms of tobacco are harmful. Aim: The proposed exploratory study aims to assess the level of knowledge and attitude regarding tobacco consumption and its hazards among male adults in a selected village of Moga, Punjab, and to examine the relationship of knowledge and attitude with selected socio-demographic variables. Methods: A community-based exploratory, cross-sectional design is appropriate for the study. Adult men residing in the selected village would be recruited according to predefined eligibility criteria. Data collection may use a structured socio-demographic proforma, a knowledge questionnaire covering tobacco products, dependence, health hazards, second-hand smoke, oral and respiratory effects, cardiovascular effects, cessation and tobacco-control measures, and an attitude scale covering perceived risk, social acceptability, readiness to quit and willingness to support tobacco-free environments. Data may be summarised by frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, with appropriate tests of association such as chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. If scale scores are approximately continuous and assumptions are met, correlation or regression methods may also be used. Expected contribution: The study is intended to identify areas in which rural adult men may need clearer information, stronger cessation support or community-level interventions. Indian evidence indicates that awareness of tobacco hazards is associated with tobacco-use patterns, while behavioural cessation interventions can improve quitting outcomes when support is sustained. Findings from a village-level assessment can therefore help nurses, community health workers and primary-care teams tailor health education to local beliefs and practices.