Evaluation of the 1990 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention smoke-free policy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of tobacco use among Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) employees and the effect of the smoke-free policy on smoking behavior and air quality at work.


METHODS
A stratified telephone survey of 1181 CDC/ATSDR employees randomly selected from employee rosters.


METHODS
CDC/ATSDR work sites in Atlanta, Georgia, and other major CDC locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.


METHODS
Randomly selected employees of CDC/ATSDR1, or about 22% of the total CDC/ATSDR population; 98% of eligible persons selected agreed to participate.


METHODS
Demographic and smoking history variables, attitudes toward and impact of the smoke-free policy on smoking behavior, and self-report changes in air quality were the measures used.


RESULTS
Overall cigarette smoking prevalence was only 11.1%. One percent reported using chewing tobacco, 1.1% reported smoking a pipe, and 1.4% reported smoking cigars. Average self-reported, daily cigarette consumption significantly decreased after the smoking ban took effect. Overall, 90% of the employees supported the smoke-free policy, and 80% of the employees believed that smokers were complying with the smoke-free policy. Most employees believed that the air quality of work areas and nonwork areas (65% and 69%, respectively) had improved since the smoke-free policy was implemented.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with previous evaluations of smoke-free policies and suggest that most employees are generally supportive of workplace smoking restrictions. Such policies can also have a positive impact on smoking behavior and perceived air quality.
Emont
S L
SL
Division of Health Management, Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc., New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-2022, USA.
Zahniser
S C
SC
Marcus
S E
SE
Trontell
A E
AE
Mills
S
S
Frazier
E L
EL
Waller
M N
MN
Giovino
G A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States