AUTHOR=Wehrli Daniel , Gilljam Hans , Koh Dow Mu , Matoori Simon , Sartoretti Thomas , Boes Stefan , Hartmann Martin , Roser Katharina , Ort Alexander , Wanner Philippe , Harder Dorothee , Bech-Hohenberger Rasmus , Froehlich Johannes M. , Fröhlich Georg Marcus , Mutschler Jochen , Plümecke Tino , Gutzeit Andreas 

TITLE=Smoking trends and health equity in Switzerland between 1992 and 2017: dependence of smoking prevalence on educational level and social determinants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1258272

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1258272

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Switzerland ranks among the top three healthcare systems in the world with regards to healthcare access, suggesting a high degree of health equity. However, Switzerland has few preventive strategies against smoking abuse. The aim of this study is to clarify whether educational level and citizenship status have an influence on the prevalence of smoking in Switzerland and whether there is health inequity related to a lack of preventive strategies.We based our analysis on publicly available health data published in the Swiss government's Swiss health survey . We compared the prevalence of smoking across the years and correlated these data with levels of educational attainment, citizenship status and age.A continuous significant decline in smokers is observed in the highest education group (TERT). Over time, prevalence was reduced from 29% in 1992 to 23% in 2017 (p<.001). The intermediate-level educational group (SEK 2) showed smaller but also significant decline on a 0.05 sigificance level over the same period, from 31% to 29% (p=.003). The lowest educational group showed a nonsignificant decline from 28% to 27% (p=0.6). The population who holds Swiss citizenship showed a decrease in smoking from 28% to 26% within the time frame (p<.001). People without Swiss citizenship had a much higher prevalence of smokers, at 38% in 1992 and declining to 32% in 2017 (p<.001). All cohorts from age 15 to age 64 have a far higher prevalence of smokers than cohorts at an older age, with the highest prevalence in the 25-34 age group.In Switzerland, individuals with lower levels of education and non-Swiss populations are more susceptible to health risk of smoking. This is despite the existence of a high-quality healthcare system that has nevertheless failed to negated health inequities. 293 words 2 hat gelöscht: From this point of view, it can be confirmed that the 261 level of education can be considered a good predictor of the rates of 262 smoking dependency (Figure 1).263 hat gelöscht: ( 264 hat gelöscht: 12-15) 265 Kommentiert [AG3]: R3-2 Changes were made according your suggestions. Kommentiert [AG4]: R3-4 Changes are made according your suggestions.