Smoking and Vaping in Amateur Rugby Players, Coaches and Referees: Findings from a Regional Survey Might Help to Define Prevention Targets

Frédéric Chagué, Emmanuel Reboursière, Jean Israël, Jean-Philippe Hager, Patrice Ngassa, Marc Geneste, Jean-Pierre Guinoiseau, Gilles Garet, Jacques Girardin, Jacques Sarda, Yves Cottin and Marianne Zeller
Additional contact information
Frédéric Chagué: Cardiology Department, University Hospital Center Dijon Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Emmanuel Reboursière: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Jean Israël: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Jean-Philippe Hager: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Patrice Ngassa: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Marc Geneste: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Jean-Pierre Guinoiseau: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Gilles Garet: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Jacques Girardin: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Jacques Sarda: French Rugby Federation, 91460 Marcoussis, France
Yves Cottin: Cardiology Department, University Hospital Center Dijon Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Marianne Zeller: Physiopathologie et Epidémiologie Cérébro-Cardiovasculaires (PEC2), EA 7460 UFR Sciences de Santé, University of Bourgogne Franche Comté, 21000 Dijon, France

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: A high prevalence of cigarette smoking has been documented in France, and new patterns of tobacco and nicotine consumption are emerging, especially in some sports. In the amateur rugby population, data are scarce on harmful consumption and on the awareness of the risk of smoking. We analyzed the consumption of tobacco and other nicotine products in French amateur players, coaches and referees. Amateur players (>12 years old), coaches and referees participating in the Burgundy amateur championship were invited to answer an electronic, anonymous questionnaire during the 2017–2018 sport season. Among the 683 subjects (gender ratio M/F = 0.9), 176 (25.8%) were current smokers, including 32.4% of the referees and 28.2% of the coaches. The prevalence of smokers was higher in females (37.5%) than in males (24.6%). Most (86.4%) smoked within 2 h before/after a rugby session. Only 28 subjects (4.1%) usually vaped; 21 of them (75%) vaped within 2 h before/after a rugby session. Other tobacco or nicotine products were infrequent. The awareness about the risks of smoking before/after sport was incomplete, including in coaches and referees. The prevalence of cigarette smoking is alarming across the whole spectrum of rugby amateur actors. Education programs are urgently needed to reduce tobacco consumption in this at-risk population.

Keywords: tobacco; nicotine; cardiovascular risk; rugby; sport; electronic cigarettes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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