CHS Attends European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention Conference

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FLORENCE, Italy — On October 9-12, Research Associate Zhanna Sargsyan (MPH ’18) from the Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development of the American University of Armenia (AUA) Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS) attended the 8th annual European Conference on Tobacco Control, hosted by the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) at the Florence Learning Center.

Sargsyan delivered a research presentation titled Predictors of the Past 30-Days E-Cigarette Use Among Adolescents in Armenia. Her study found that the past 30-day e-cigarette use among Armenian adolescents is closely linked to the allure of various flavors as the primary reason for trying e-cigarettes. The study’s main recommendation underscores the need to address the rising trend of youth e-cigarette use in Armenia, with a specific focus on male students in public schools, and potential bans on flavored e-cigarette products.

Additionally, Sargsyan presented research on Exposure to Secondhand Smoke and Intention to Use E-Cigarettes Among Adolescents, authored by Varduhi Hayrumyan (MPH ’16). This research found an association between adolescents’ intention to use e-cigarettes and their exposure to secondhand smoke. Given the prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure in Armenia, further exploration of this connection is essential to inform effective public health policies and interventions targeting adolescents.

Sargsyan also made a notable contribution as co-author of the multi-country abstract titled From Internet to Reality: Studying Population Interest in Tobacco and Related Terms and Topics Using Google Trends. This abstract, co-authored with her CHS colleague Adena Alahverdian (MPH ’22), utilizes Google Trends to examine the popularity of terms and topics across seven European countries, including Armenia, unveiling both commonalities and disparities. These findings call for further investigation into the underlying determinants of these similarities and differences. 

The abstracts of these studies are published in the special issue of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation journal.  

At the conference, Sargsyan co-chaired the session Tobacco Use Challenges in Europe along with Christina Kyriakos from Imperial College London, UK.

As a dedicated member of ENSP Next Youth Group, Sargsyan actively participated in pre-conference workshops organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. She opted for sessions on Navigating Social Media: Learning from Influencer Marketing to Build a Stronger Advocacy Voice and Policy and Drafting Guidance for E-Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Products. These workshops encompassed knowledge and tools that advanced Sagsyan in her advocacy efforts. Additionally, she participated in sessions dedicated to youth and tobacco industry tactics, further enhancing her understanding of the complex landscape of tactics used by the tobacco industry to augment youth engagement.

Beyond the scientific sessions, the conference featured a variety of off-site activities. Sargsyan led a group activity for conference participants in the heart of Florence. This engaging experience allowed the group to practice tobacco control advocacy in real-world circumstances while relishing the city’s charm. CHS expresses gratitude to ENSP for providing financial support that made Sargsyan’s participation in the conference possible.

The AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.