National survey on smoking situation in Royal Thai Police

Study current smoking situation among Royal Thai Police officers nationwide.

20,000 questionnaires about smoking behavior, amount of cigarettes smoked per day, and staging of smoking cessation were distributed between March and August 2008 to 1) the Office of the Top Management, 2) every bureau nationwide, 3) every division of any police bureau, 4) six biggest police stations from every division, and 5) three subdivisions from every division in supporting bureau. The Police General Hospital, Police Education Bureau, Police Cadet Academy, Office of Inspector General, and Office of the Royal Court Security Police were excluded from this survey.

Of all 20,000 questionnaires distributed, 14,231 completed questionnaires were received during the five-month study period. Nationwide, 30.9% of Thai police smoke, 33.4% of male police officers smoke while only 3.3% of female police officers do. Among five groups classified by organizational structure, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has the highest smoking rate of 33.9%. Detective police smoking rate of 40.3% is the highest among field of police work. Ten point one percent of the police officers who currently smoke are addicted to nicotine in the high level of 20 or more cigarettes per day. However 60.4% of the police officers who currently smoke attempt to quit smoking at least once a year but fail and 84.7% of the entire police officers agree with the smoke-free workplace policy, which has already been implemented and 76.0% of the police officers who currency smoke agree with the 100% smoke-free police station policy.

The smoking rate of Thai police is higher than the average smoking rate of Thai population. In order to decrease the smoking rate among Thai police, the 100% smoke-free police station policy should be implemented. This policy aims to counsel police officers who currently smoke about nicotine withdrawal symptoms in the short term, and to alter behavior and attitude about smoking in the long term.