Knowledge about tobacco and attitudes toward tobacco control: How different are smokers and nonsmokers?

Using data from a 1996 random-digit-dialling computer-assisted telephone su rvey of Ontario adults, 424 smokers and 1,340 nonsmokers were compared rega rding knowledge about the health effects of tobacco use, attitudes toward r estrictions on smoking and other tobacco control measures, and predictions of compliance with more restrictions. The response rare was 65%. Smokers we re less knowledgeable than nonsmokers. Smokers were also less likely to sup port bans on smoking in specific locations, but majorities of both groups s upported some restriction in most settings. Smokers were more likely than n onsmokers to predict that most smokers would comply with more restrictions, and more than three quarters indicated that they, themselves, would comply . Sizable proportions of both groups, especially smokers, failed to appreci ate the effectiveness of taxation in reducing smoking. Support for other co ntrol measures also differed by smoking status. Both; knowledge and smoking status were independently associated with support for more restrictions an d other tobacco control policy measures.