Using Poisson Regression Analysis in Investigating Factors Affecting Smoking among Health Personnel within Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)
Keywords:
cigarette smoking quantity, Lao PDR, health personnel and poisson regressionAbstract
This cross-sectional analytical study investigated factors affecting the quantity of cigarettes smoked by
health personnel within Lao PDR. Data from the research project “Smoking Behavior and Tobacco Control
among Medical Doctor in Lao PDR” from Phengsavanh et al. (2008) was used for this investigation. Altogether
855 health personnel participated in this undertaking. Data were analyzed by the Poisson regression while the
number of smoked cigarettes had been taken as the dependent variable. The negative Binomial regression
analysis was used to solve the frequent problem of Poisson regression analysis being overdispersion. Zeroinflated
Poisson regression analysis was used in case of overdispersion and excesses zero data.
From 79 current smokers, the result from the negative binomial regression analysis was as follows. An
increase in the quantities of cigarette smoking per day were found among health personnel who were married
(IRR=1.77; 95%CI: 1.09-2.86), ever smoked 100 cigarettes in their life time (IRR=2.07; 95%CI: 1.34-3.19),
spending more then 10,000 kip for buying cigarettes per week (IRR=1.73; 95%CI: 1.42-2.09) and had been
advised to quit smoking (IRR=1.24; 95%CI: 1.00-1.51). The respondents who had a positive attitude about
smoking smoked fewer cigarettes than those with a negative attitude (IRR=0.60; 95%CI: 0.41-0.86).
Results of Zero-inflated Poisson regression analysis for the total of 855 health personnel showed a
significant increase in the quantities of cigarettes smoked greater than 0 cigarettes per day. This was related to
an age greater than 40 years (IRR=1.25; 95%CI: 1.06-1.48), married (IRR=2.51; 95%CI: 1.59-3.94), being of
Lao ethnic (IRR=1.47; 95%CI: 1.06-2.01), and had a negative attitude about smoking (IRR=1.78; 95%CI: 1.28-
2.50).
The findings of this study suggest that ways to enhance a correct attitude towards smoking among the
health personnel are needed.
