Relationship of worksite smoking policy to changes in employee tobacco use: findings from COMMIT. Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation.
OBJECTIVE
To report data on the impact of worksite smoking policies on employee smoking behaviour from a large and heterogeneous sample of smokers and worksites in 22 different communities across North America participating in the COMMIT trial.


METHODS
Data from a population-based survey of 8271 employed adult smokers who completed surveys in 1988 and 1993. Surveys included questions on tobacco use behaviours, personal/demographic characteristics, and smoking policy and cessation resources at the workplace.


RESULTS
After controlling for potential confounding factors, regression analyses revealed that employees who worked in a smoke-free worksite were over 25% more likely to make a serious quit attempt between 1988 and 1993, and over 25% more likely to achieve cessation than those who worked in a worksite that permitted smoking. Among continuing smokers, employees in smoke-free worksites consumed an average of 2 3/4 fewer cigarettes per day compared with those who worked in places with a non-restrictive smoking policy. A smoke-free worksite policy was not associated with a greater likelihood of using smokeless tobacco.


CONCLUSIONS
These data, from one of the largest and longest smoking cessation studies to date, add support to the conclusion that smoke-free worksite policies help employees to reduce or discontinue use of tobacco.
Glasgow
R E
RE
Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, USA.
Cummings
K M
KM
Hyland
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014026:Nicotiana; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology