Passive smoking at work: the short-term cost.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the impact of passive smoking at work on use of health care services and absenteeism.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey.


METHODS
A workforce in Hong Kong.


METHODS
5142 never-smoking police officers in a total sample of 9926.


RESULTS
A consistently strong association was found among men between length of time exposed to passive smoking at work and self reported consultations with a doctor, use of medicines and time off work. Results for women were similar but most were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The exposure of healthy adults to passive smoking at work is related to utilisation of health care services and extra time off work. This results in costs to the health services, to employers and to those exposed.
McGhee
S M
SM
Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 7 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. smmcghee@hkucc.hku.hk
Adab
P
P
Hedley
A J
AJ
Lam
T H
TH
Ho
L M
LM
Fielding
R
R
Wong
C M
CM
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution