Tobacco Control Policy-related Survey by Online Panel 2021

Aim: to collect further information on issues related to tobacco control which should be addressed and advocated in further tobacco control measures in Hong Kong.

The objectives of this policy-related survey by online panel are as follows:

1. to update information on prevalence of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and waterpipe tobaccos;
2. to investigate the effects of new pictorial health warning policy in the public;
3. to investigate the level of public support on current and future tobacco control measures and taxation;
4. to address the timely impacts of smoke-free policies, public support for further tobacco control measures and assist COSH in shaping policy direction for government;

Current study is a repeated cross-sectional online survey based on questionnaires. A total of 2 waves of survey will be conducted 4 months apart starting from early 2021. The target sample size in each wave of survey is planned to be 900 Hong Kong residents. The online survey will be conducted by a survey agent under the monitor of applicants. All eligible registered members of the survey agent panel will be invited to respond to the questionnaire. Once a member responded to the first wave of this study, he/she would no longer receive invitation for the subsequent wave. All responses will be kept anonymously. Analysis of survey data will aim to identify current opinion on tobacco control policies and implications for future policies. All eligible subjects who complete the online survey will be included in the analysis. Comparison with past trends conducted by landline and mobile phone surveys and, where possible, extrapolation of future trends will be explored. Weightings will be applied to adjust for the sex and age of Hong Kong population, and to handle the over-sampling issues of ex- and current smokers. The data analysis will be conducted by experienced statisticians in the applicants' team.