Data from: Effectiveness of government anti-smoking policy on nonsmoking youth in Korea: a four-year trend analysis of national survey data

Objectives: Since the Health Promotion Act was introduced in Korea in
1995, anti-smoking policies and regulations have undergone numerous
revisions, and non-smoking areas have gradually been expanded. The purpose
of this study was to examine the impact of a partial legislative ban on
adolescent exposure to secondhand smoke using objective urinary cotinine
levels in a nationwide representative sample. Methods: Urine cotinine
levels were measured in the Korea National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011. This study was a trend analysis of
4 years of national survey data from 2197 Korean youth aged 10–18 years.
Among non-smokers, the 75th percentile urinary cotinine level was
estimated. We also considered the number of household smokers. Results:
The 75th percentile urine cotinine level of non-smokers showed a
significant decreasing trend from 2008 to 2011, from 15.47 to 5.37 ng/mL,
respectively. Urine cotinine did not decline significantly in non-smokers
living with smokers during the study period. The results did not show a
statistically significant reduction in smoking rate in adolescents from
2008 to 2011, although there was a trend towards a decrease (p=0.081).
Conclusions: Based on urine cotinine levels, government-initiated
anti-smoking policies have only been effective among highly exposed
non-smoking adolescents during the study period. Further study needs to
evaluate whether or not the legislative ban affects domestic smoking
exposure.