Smoking survey at a midwestern U.S. medical center.
BACKGROUND
In an effort to learn more about the smoking behavior of hospital employees, a study was conducted at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) regarding tobacco usage and secondhand smoke exposure.


METHODS
An anonymous voluntary survey was distributed to 4177 full-time employees in Kansas City and Wichita during June and July of 1998. Questions included tobacco usage and exposure to secondhand smoke. The survey results were assimilated in a data base, which was analyzed in a variety of ways to arrive at several conclusive findings.


RESULTS
Of the 1187 respondents (28. 4%), 35.1% had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their life (41% of those had at least a 10 pack-year history), and 11.8% currently smoked. The groups with the highest percentage of current smokers were females (12%), blacks (17%), Kansas City campus employees (12%), and nonfaculty (13%). Sixty-seven percent of respondents were exposed to secondhand smoke in the previous week, and 25% were exposed at KUMC.


CONCLUSIONS
After arriving at the results of this study, recommendations include starting an educational campaign against smoking, promoting cessation programs, moving the current smoking area to a less populated area on campus, and investigating a total campus ban on smoking.
Landeck
B F
BF
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas 66160-7313, USA.
Wallace
D D
DD
Neuberger
J S
JS
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution