PMID- 19144186
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
DCOM- 20091216
LR  - 20211020
IS  - 1617-9625 (Electronic)
IS  - 1617-9625 (Print)
IS  - 1617-9625 (Linking)
VI  - 5
IP  - 1
DP  - 2009 Jan 14
TI  - Stakeholders' opinions about a tobacco policy in Lao PDR.
PG  - 2
LID - 10.1186/1617-9625-5-2 [doi]
AB  - The global epidemic of tobacco smoking is expected to impact hardest in low- and 
      middle- income countries (LMIC). There is a lack of understanding regarding the 
      policy environments within which tobacco control policies are being introduced 
      particularly in LMIC. This study aims at exploring key stakeholders' beliefs 
      about a tobacco policy in Lao PDR. This is a qualitative case study with a 
      standardised open-ended questionnaire answered by eleven stakeholders in leading 
      positions within different ministries and the media, donors and NGOs. Themes 
      included the perception of tobacco among professionals, awareness of tobacco as a 
      public health issue, importance of inter-sectoral cooperation, and obstacles 
      faced in implementing policies. The research team included both outsiders and an 
      insider. Analysis was done using the case and cross-case analysis. Among the 
      respondents there was consensus regarding the positive impact of a national 
      tobacco policy with the exception of the representative from the Ministry of 
      Agriculture. Stakeholders identified education, awareness creation through media 
      and law enforcement as important interventions, followed by taxation. Education 
      should be diversified in the way it should be delivered. It was emphasized that 
      people in rural areas and minority groups need tailored made approaches. A major 
      limiting factor in moving tobacco control forward in LMIC was stated to be the 
      lack of funding. The refusal by tobacco industry to participate in the study is 
      noteworthy. It is essential to draft a national tobacco policy that can help the 
      government to increase taxes, and create adequate provisions for the enforcement 
      of tobacco laws and regulations.
FAU - Tomson, Tanja
AU  - Tomson T
AD  - Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social 
      Medicine, Sweden. tanja.tomson@ki.se
FAU - Akkhavong, Kongsap
AU  - Akkhavong K
FAU - Gilljam, Hans
AU  - Gilljam H
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20090114
PL  - Greece
TA  - Tob Induc Dis
JT  - Tobacco induced diseases
JID - 101201591
PMC - PMC2630303
EDAT- 2009/01/16 09:00
MHDA- 2009/01/16 09:01
PMCR- 2009/01/14
CRDT- 2009/01/16 09:00
PHST- 2008/10/20 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2009/01/14 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2009/01/16 09:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2009/01/16 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2009/01/16 09:01 [medline]
PHST- 2009/01/14 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 1617-9625-5-2 [pii]
AID - 10.1186/1617-9625-5-2 [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Tob Induc Dis. 2009 Jan 14;5(1):2. doi: 10.1186/1617-9625-5-2.