Evaluation of mail survey for the assessment of tobacco use among adults

Objectives: We tried in this study to evaluate a low-cost survey method, na mely mail survey, to assess the smoking patterns among adults in Aleppo. Methods: Eight hundred standard questionnaires were distributed to random m ail boxes at the Central Post Office of Aleppo-Syria. Core questions about smoking status were included in the questionnaires together with questions about some socio-economic characteristics of the surveyed, Among the return ed questionnaires, 313 (response rate 39%) were valid for further analysis (257 males/mean age+SEM 40+1 year, acid 56 females age 37+1 year). The fema le sample size was small to allow any conclusions. Results: The prevalence of daily smoking was 33.4% among males and 7.1% amo ng females. Male daily smokers smoked 23+1 cigarettes per day on average. Q uit ratio for males was (24.4%). Smokers were significantly more frequent i n bigger households (p<0.005) and in houses where smokers live (p<0.001). E ver smoking was significantly associated with the presence of a smoker or m ore within the immediate family of the surveyed (p<0.01). Income and level of education were not related to smoking status of the studied sample (p>0. 05). Conclusions: This study shows the inadequacy of mail survey as a method for the assessment of tobacco use among the general population in Aleppo, main ly due to the sample not being representative. However, the collected data can help outline the general patterns of cigarette smoking in this populati on and set some guidelines for future more extensive studies.