Smoking rate trends in U.S. occupational groups: the 1987 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey.
OBJECTIVE
It is unknown if the gap in smoking rates observed between United States blue- and white-collar workers over the past four decades has continued into the new millennium.


METHODS
The National Health Interview Survey is a nationally representative survey of the US civilian population. Smoking and current occupational status were assessed over survey periods 1987 to 1994 and 1997 to 2004 (n= 298,042).


RESULTS
There were significant annual reductions in smoking rates for all adult US workers in both survey periods. Several blue-collar groups had greater annual smoking rate reductions in the most recent survey period relative to the earlier survey period. However, the majority of blue-collar worker groups had pooled 1997 to 2004 smoking rates in excess of the 24.5% smoking prevalence noted for all workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of effective smoking prevention strategies specifically targeting blue-collar groups is warranted.
Lee
David J
DJ
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA. dlee@med.miami.edu
Fleming
Lora E
LE
Arheart
Kristopher L
KL
LeBlanc
William G
WG
Caban
Alberto J
AJ
Chung-Bridges
Katherine
K
Christ
Sharon L
SL
McCollister
Kathryn E
KE
Pitman
Terry
T
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000639:trends*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology