Co-Plot Method: A Research on Tobacco Control in the European Region
Categorie(s):
Health
Author(s):
Sengul Cangur(1), Ilker Ercan(2), Guven Ozkaya(2)
Keyword(s):
multivariate analysis; tobacco; health status indicator.
DOI:
10.2427/11480
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to introduce the uncommonly used Co-Plot method which is
called the multivariate graphical analysis and to apply this method to a data set including tobacco
control in European region.
METHODS: This study uses the data from the World Health Organization database according to Human
Development Index of European countries. It takes into account variables such as smoking prevalence
in young people and adults, the proportion of smoking-related deaths and domestic legislations cases
pertaining to tobacco products and analyses the data using the Co-Plot method.
RESULTS: Results of the study demonstrated that smoking prevalence and restrictions on advertising
of tobacco products were highly negatively correlated. The proportion of deaths associated with
smoking-related diseases increased parallel to the increase in the smoking prevalence in young
people and adults. Norway, France and Finland have enforced legal limitations on direct and indirect
advertising, and thus there has been a decline in smoking prevalence among young people and
adults. In some countries, including Ireland, Italy and Serbia, the prevalence of smoking among the
young has decreased due to the new or increased legal restrictions on the sale distribution of tobacco
products. The governments in the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Croatia, the Netherlands,
Belgium, and Poland have placed restrictions on direct and indirect advertising. The distribution of
other causes-related deaths and lung cancer-related deaths are high.
CONCLUSION: The restrictions on tobacco products were tightened in time with the increased
prevalence of smoking and proportion of smoking-related deaths. It can be said that the significant
relationships identified in this study have even more pertinence in developed countries. Consequently,
Co-Plot method has enabled deeper data interpretations of the relationships between the countries
and the variables in this study.