title: Accuracy of self-reported smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in the US workforce: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occupational health studies often rely on self-reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study examines the accuracy of self-reported tobacco use and SHS exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on serum cotinine, self-reported tobacco use, and SHS exposure for US workers were extracted from three National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (n = 17,011). Serum cotinine levels were used to classify workers into SHS exposure categories. The percent agreement between self-reported tobacco use and SHS exposure with the cotinine categories was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workers reporting tobacco use were 88% accurate whereas workers reporting work, home, or home+work exposures were 87% to 92% accurate. Workers reporting no SHS exposure were only 28% accurate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Workers accurately reported their smoking status and workplace-home SHS exposures, but substantial numbers reporting "no exposures" had detectable levels of cotinine in their blood, indicating exposure to SHS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Fla 33136, USA. KArheart@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Kristopher L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Arheart
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lora E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: Noella A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McCollister
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Evelyn P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Davila
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Bandiera
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Erard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine