Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of human society, including education, culture, and economy, and has also brought changes in health behaviors such as drinking alcohol, nutrition intake, and practicing healthy living. This study conducted a qualitative research in the Korean context to examine the changes in the smoking behavior of smokers and secondhand smoke exposure of non-smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted with 36 Korean participants (18 men and 18 women): groups were composed of cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users, heated tobacco products users, or non-smokers. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless tobacco products, in the case of users who were not participating in engaging in social interaction, such as working from home or online classes, the frequency of using increased, and for users who continued engaging in social interactions, the amount of using increased each time they used. Smokers showed a tendency to avoid smoking rooms and to smoke alone in places where there were no people. In addition, non-smokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke did not decrease, but since non-smokers used masks, they reported more relief about the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke than before. Conclusions: Smokers being a high-risk group for COVID-19 did not result in smoking cessation among smokers. Therefore, policy and educational campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and to encourage smoking cessation are needed in the future.
A Qualitative Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Behavior and Attitudes of Smokers and Non-smokers in South Korea