Smoke-free laws and adult smoking prevalence.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the adult smoking rate changed in Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, following the enactment of a smoke-free public places ordinance.


METHODS
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data from 2001-2005 were used to test whether smoking rates changed in Fayette County from the pre- to post-law period, relative to the change in 30 Kentucky counties with similar demographics. The sample consisted of 10,413 BRFSS respondents: 7139 pre-law (40 months) and 3274 post-law (20 months).


RESULTS
There was a 31.9% decline in adult smoking in Fayette County (25.7% pre-law to 17.5% post-law). In the group of 30 Control counties, the rate was 28.4% pre-law and 27.6% post-law. Controlling for seasonality, time trend, age, gender, ethnicity, education, marital status, and income, there was a significant Time (pre- vs. post-law) by Group (Fayette vs. Controls) interaction. There were an estimated 16,500 fewer smokers in Fayette County during post-law compared to pre-law.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant effect of smoke-free legislation on adult smoking rates.
University of Kentucky, College of Nursing, 760 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0232, USA. ejhahn00@email.uky.edu
Ellen J
EJ
Hahn
Mary Kay
MK
Rayens
Karen M
KM
Butler
Mei
M
Zhang
Emily
E
Durbin
Doug
D
Steinke
D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution