DUBAI, 2 November 2007 — A recent study showing that 54 percent of smokers in the UAE are below 30 years of age was discussed yesterday by local and international medical experts at a medical conference held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai.
“The study indicates the scale of potential future health problems unless the widespread addiction to tobacco is curtailed,” stressed the delegates, who included Dr. Wedad Al-Maidoor, consultant family physician and head of the UAE’s anti-smoking committee, Dr. Bassam Mahboub, consultant pulmonologist and member of the anti-smoking committee, and Dr. Azan S. Binbrek, consultant cardiologist at the Dubai Health Authorities.
They were joined by one of the world’s respected authorities on smoking cessation, Mitchell Nides, PhD, president of the Los Angeles Clinical Trials and director of Picture Quitting, the Entertainment Industry’s Quit Smoking Program in America. The research that was discussed at the event was a survey of over 500 smokers in the UAE. The study, which was conducted last summer, analyzed a random sample of smokers to determine their willingness to quit and the steps people are taking when taking the decision to quit.
Within the research group of smokers, a total of 92 percent were male. A total of 54 percent were under the age of 30; 27 percent were between 30-39; 14 percent were between 40-49; and 5 percent were over 50.
“The research graphically demonstrates the potential impact of smoking on health and welfare in the UAE, as well as highlighting the responsibility that doctors have in tackling the condition,” said Dr. Bassam Mahboub.
One of the remarkable findings of the research was that only 11 percent of smokers, who were actively motivated to quit, had discussed their problem with their doctor. Some 66 percent of those surveyed believed that they would be able to quit on their own, even among the sub-group that had attempted to quit previously and had been unsuccessful.
“This meeting drew together some of the leading experts in the field of anti-smoking, who were all in broad agreement about the importance of reducing the number of smokers in the UAE. Smoking is one of the major causes of preventable death in the region and we will continue to increase our efforts to reduce its impact,” said Dr. Wedad Al-Maidoor.
Mitchell Nides will be delivering in the region a series of lectures to doctors about the potential ways to help patients quit smoking.
