Tobacco Use Declines sharply in Quad-Cities, according to study

Source from:  Quad City Times‎ 09/18/2015

Will the last person found smoking in the Quad-Cities please blow out the match?

Not smoking is the trend, according to a new health study of residents in the metropolitan area. According to the 2015 Quad-Cities Community Health Assessment, tobacco use has fallen from 25.9 percent of residents who smoked in 2002, to 18 percent in 2015.

In a related tally, the number of "household smokers," or those who smoke inside a residence, fell from 26.7 percent in 2002, to 15.5 percent in 2015.

"Those still smoking have gotten the message not to do it around the family," Edward Rivers said.

Rivers is director of the Scott County Health Department, which is one of six partners to sponsor the study, the fourth one since 2002.

The 2015 assessment included a telephone survey of 923 individuals in Scott and Rock Island counties, plus extensive secondary data analysis. The survey was conducted by Professional Research Consultants of Omaha, Neb. The Quad-City Health Initiative was the facilitator.

These collaborative assessments are required by the federal Affordable Care Act, said Nicole Carkner, the initiative's executive director. The data is to be used for comparative purposes at both the state and national levels.

"While we are on the right path and doing well, there still is work to be done," said Nita Ludwig, who directs the Rock Island County Health Department.

Ludwig pointed out the study shows areas of strength beyond the smoking data, including the number of people who now have health insurance.

She added, however, that people who recently got insurance might have trouble finding providers and may also need to be educated on how and when to use the insurance.

In other improvements: Death rates for several causes are down, including heart disease, stroke, pneumonia/influenza, diabetes, kidney disease and motor vehicle crashes; there is a perceived ease of getting pre- and post-natal care; lead hazards have been reduced; and physical activity numbers are up, although that may reflect a seasonal impact, Carkner said.

There also are several areas for improvement, including: cancer rates, infant health and family planning, injury and violence, mental health, respiratory diseases, sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse.

The health assessment reflects a partnership of all local health care organizations, and that is what Carkner calls "a huge accomplishment for our community."

"We do have a collaborative community, and I really think it helps all of us to be using a common set of data," she said. Enditem