The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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Smoking habits and nicotine dependence of North Korean male defectors

  • Kim, Sei Won (Division of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, Jong Min (Division of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Ban, Woo Ho (Division of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Park, Chan Kwon (Division of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Yoon, Hyoung Kyu (Division of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee, Sang Haak (Division of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • Received : 2015.04.27
  • Accepted : 2015.06.15
  • Published : 2016.07.01
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Abstract

Background/Aims: The smoking rates and patterns in the North Korean population are not well known. More than 20,000 North Korean defectors have settled in South Korea; thus, we can estimate the current North Korean smoking situation using this group. Methods: All North Korean defectors spend their first 3 months in a South Korean facility learning to adapt to their new home. We retrospectively analyzed the results from a questionnaire conducted among North Korean male defectors in this facility from August 2012 to February 2014. Results: Of 272 men, 84.2% were current smokers, 12.5% were ex-smokers, and 3.3% were non-smokers. The mean age of this group was $35.9{\pm}11.3years$, and smoking initiation occurred at a mean age of $18.2{\pm}4.7years$. Among the subjects, 78.1% had a family member who smoked. Of the 221 current smokers, 67.4% responded that they intended to quit smoking. $Fagerstr{\ddot{o}}m$ test and Kano test for social nicotine dependence (KTSND) results for current smokers were $3.35{\pm}2.26$ and $13.76{\pm}4.87$, respectively. Question 9 on the KTSND (doctors exaggerate the ill effects of smoking) earned a significantly higher score relative to the other questions and a significantly higher score in current smokers compared with non-smokers. Conclusions: The smoking rate in North Korean male defectors was higher than that indicated previously. However, interest in smoking cessation was high and nicotine dependence was less severe than expected. Further investigation is needed to identify an efficient method for North Korean smokers to stop smoking.

Keywords

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