UNAIR NEWS – The Faculty of Public Health (FKM) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) held a guest lecture titled Empowering Academic and Public Health Impact on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The hybrid-format event took place both at the Sabdoadi Auditorium, UNAIR Campus MERR-C, and virtually via Zoom.
The second session focused on Australia’s tobacco control efforts. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aziz Rahman, MBBS, MPH, CertGTC, GCHECTL, PhD—Adjunct Professor at UNAIR’s FKM—delivered the presentation alongside two PhD students from Federation University, Australia.
Tobacco control challenges
During his presentation, Prof. Rahman noted that Australia has achieved a significant reduction in smoking prevalence thanks to various tobacco control policies. The country’s smoking rate has dropped to below 10 percent. Still, he pointed out, considerable challenges remain.
“Tobacco remains the second leading risk factor for disease burden after obesity. Among lower socioeconomic groups, smoking rates can be up to three times the national average,” he explained.
To counter this, the Australian government has adopted a number of policies, such as plain packaging—cigarette packages without branding, featuring graphic health warnings—and increasing tobacco taxes to limit access. “More than two-thirds of smokers in Australia want to quit. Support services like Quitline, SMS counseling, and health worker consultations are available,” he added.
Smoking habits among doctors
Masud Salehin, MBBS, holder of a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics and MPH, shared findings from his research on smoking behaviors and cessation practices among General Practitioners (GPs) in Australia. According to his data, many GPs cited personal reasons—such as social pressure, anxiety, or depression—for smoking.
“This creates a dilemma. Health professionals are highly effective in encouraging patients to quit, yet the WHO states they should set an example by being smoke-free. While many doctors have attempted to quit, overall motivation levels remain low,” he remarked.
Vaping trends and role of health professionals
To close the discussion, Dr. Naima Nimmi, BDS, MPH, addressed the increasing use of alternative tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes. While conventional cigarette use has declined, vaping has become more popular—especially among teens. About one in five Australians aged 14 and older has tried vaping, and one-third of those later experimented with cigarettes.
Dr. Nimmi’s research focuses on the role of healthcare providers—especially GPs and pediatricians—as reliable sources of information for youth. “We conducted a scoping review of thousands of articles. Health professionals need updated training on vaping, better follow-up strategies, and clear referral guidelines. They should also routinely ask about vaping during consultations with teens, just as they would about smoking,” she concluded.
Author: Fania Tiara Berliana Marsyanda
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
