[Changes in hospitality workers' expectations and attitudes after the implementation of the Spanish smoking law].
OBJECTIVE
To assess changes in hospitality workers' expectations and attitudes towards the Spanish smoking law before and 2 years after the smoking ban.


METHODS
We performed a longitudinal study of a cohort (n=431) of hospitality workers in five regions in Spain before the law came into effect and 24 months later. Expectations and attitudes towards the ban and knowledge about the effect of second-hand smoke on health were compared before and after the ban.


RESULTS
We recruited 431 hospitality workers in the baseline survey and 219 were followed-up 24 months later (overall follow-up rate of 50.8%). The percentage of hospitality workers who knew the law was 79.0% before it was passed and was 94.1% 24 months later (p<0.05). We observed an increase in support to the smoke-free ban in all public places, including bars and restaurants (54.1% to 65.8%; p<0.05). The percentages of support for the current ban, perception of compliance with the ban by employees and customers, and knowledge of the effect of second-hand smoke on health also increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge and support to the Spanish smoking law among hospitality workers increased 2 years after the implementation of the ban.
Martínez-Sánchez
Jose M
JM
Unitat de Recerca i Control del Tabaquisme, Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. jmmartinez@ico.scs.es
Fenández
Esteve
E
Fu
Marcela
M
Pérez-Ríos
Mónica
M
Schiaffino
Anna
A
López
María J
MJ
Alonso
Begoña
B
Saltó
Esteve
E
Nebot
Manel
M
Borràs
Josep M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires