Publication | Open Access
Workplace smoking policy and changes in smoking behaviour in California: a suggested association
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1995
Year
Tobacco CessationWorkplace Smoking PolicyPopulation Health SciencesSocial Determinants Of HealthHealth StudiesWorker HealthTobacco ControlJohn PierceNicotineGroup 4Public HealthHealth Services ResearchHealth SciencesHealth PolicyTobacco UseHealth PromotionChronic Disease PreventionCancer CenterPublic Health PolicyOccupational EpidemiologyCancer EpidemiologyHealth BehaviorSuggested AssociationTobacco PolicyVaping
Correspondence to : John Pierce, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0901, USA Abstract Objective -To examine the association between changes in smoking behaviour and changes in workplace smoking poli cies in California, USA. Design Population-based telephone survey. Subjects Longitudinal sample of 1844 California adult indoor workers inter viewed in 1990 and 1992. Respondents were classified into one of four groups according to whether they worked in a smoke-free work area in neither 1990 nor 1992 (group 1), in 1992 only (group 2), in 1990 and in 1992 (group 3), or in 1990 only (group 4). Main outcome measures Changes in smoking status and cigarette consump tion. Results Smoking prevalence changed from 1990 to 1992 as a function of change in workplace smoking policy. In group 3 there was a percentage decrease of 11.4 %, but only a 5.9 % decrease in group 2. For group 4, smoking prevalence showed a percentage increase of 50.9%, whereas group 1 was unchanged. Although these individual effects were not statistically significant, the 2 analysis for the overall change in smoking status among those who were current smokers in either 1990 or 1992 suggested there was an association (p < 0.06). The largest decrease in ciga rette consumption (1.4 cigarettes/day) was found for group 2. Group 4 increased their daily cigarette consumption by about four cigarettes per day, and 38.0 % of these workers did not report smoking in 1990, but reported smoking in 1992. Multivariate analysis indicated that those who change from working in an area under a smoke-free policy to no restric tions are highly unlikely to decrease their cigarette consumption. Conclusion Workplace smoking policies that are maintained may encourage changes in smoking behaviour. Smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption may increase when workers move from a workplace that prohibits smoking in the work area to one that allows work area smoking. (Tobacco Control 1995; 4: 36-41)