Abstract:
This cross-sectional survey research aimed to study the performance and factors affecting responses to tobacco control policy and measures among the officials who have been authorized to work in accordance with the tobacco control laws in Chonburi Province. The instrument of this research was a self-administered questionnaire and interview guidelines. The data were collected through mailing. The respondents were 468 (51.4%). Data was analyzed by computing descriptive and analytical statistics : percentage, arithmetic means, standard deviation, Chi-square test, Pearson product moment correlation, and Stepwise multiple regression. The results revealed that 57.2 percent were male. There were 32.8 percent of the samples who were between 41-50 years average age was 40.5 years, and 64.7 percent were married. In the percent have performed their work at the level that 'needed to be improved", 18.4 percent have not worked at all", and 4.8 percent "moderate". While 0.5 percent have performed at the "very good" level. It was found that 58.9 percent of the officials indicated that they have performed the activities related to Setting Tobacco-Free Place Areas. Most of the health education activities that have been performed by the official were giving information to public school students and university students (58.9%). The stepwise multiple regression was used to analyzed which found that the factors used to predict the performance responses of tobacco control policy and measures were : perceptions of the legal authority in accordance with the Protection of the Health of Non-smokers Act B.E.2535 (1992); being appointed to be the authorized personnel in accordance with the Tobacco Product Control Act B.E. 2535 (1992); organizing activities of the organizations; availability of materials; supports from heads; having networks, and perceptions regarding tobacco control policy and measures. Whereby all of these variables could predict the performance responses to the tobacco control policy and measures 43.8 percent. The important problems/obstacles of the perform responses to tobacco control policy and measures were: one personnel has to be responsible for many tasks; lack of budget for implementing the program; and lack of knowledge regarding tobacco control laws among personnel, 55.3, 54.2 and 44.7 percent respectively. These findings recommended to relevant organization to arrange the training seminars regarding tobacco control for these officials, the formal appointment of an adequate number of officials supporting materials and budgets for each unit.
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