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Smoking behavior among casino employees: self-report validation using plasma cotinine
H J Shaffer1, G B Eber, M N Hall
1Harvard Medical School, Division on Addictions, Boston, MA 02115-5729, USA. howard_shaffer@hms.harvard.edu
Addictive Behaviors
|October 7, 2000
Summary
This study validates tobacco use self-reports in casino employees using plasma cotinine tests. Findings show self-reports are generally valid, but accuracy varies with definitions of tobacco use.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Addiction Science
- Biomarkers of Exposure
Background:
- Self-reported behavioral data, including tobacco use, can be biased by social desirability and stigma.
- Validating self-reports is crucial for accurate health surveys and interventions.
- Casino employees may face unique pressures influencing self-reporting accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate tobacco use self-reports among casino employees.
- To assess the accuracy of self-reported tobacco use against objective biomarker data.
- To explore how different definitions of tobacco use impact self-report validity.
Main Methods:
- Plasma cotinine levels were measured to objectively assess tobacco exposure.
- Self-reported tobacco use data was collected from 3,841 casino employees.
- Discordance rates between self-reports and plasma cotinine results were calculated.
Main Results:
- Plasma cotinine tests largely validated employee self-reports of tobacco use.
- Significant variations in discordance rates were observed based on the operational definitions of tobacco use.
- The study provides evidence for the reliability of self-reported tobacco use in this population.
Conclusions:
- Casino employees' self-reported tobacco use data can be considered valid.
- Methodological approaches must account for the heterogeneity in defining and measuring smoking behavior.
- Biomarker validation is essential for understanding the nuances of self-reported health behaviors.