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Workplace tobacco policy: progress on a winding road
M Eisenberg1, J Ranger-Moore, K A Taylor
1Department of Sociology, Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson 85719, USA.
Journal of Community Health
|April 12, 2001
Summary
Workplace tobacco policies in Pima County saw a slight decrease between 1997 and 1999, with some businesses dropping policies. However, formalization and enforcement strategies increased, indicating a need for sustained support for workplace tobacco policies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Health Policy
Background:
- Workplace tobacco policies are crucial for public health.
- Previous efforts aimed to increase formal tobacco use policies in Pima County workplaces.
- Understanding policy changes and sustainability is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To track changes in workplace tobacco policies in Pima County, Arizona, from 1997 to 1999.
- To assess the impact of an intervention promoting formal tobacco use policies.
- To identify factors influencing policy adoption and retention.
Main Methods:
- A pre- and post-intervention telephone survey design was employed.
- A random sample of 1134 workplaces was stratified by workforce size.
- Follow-up surveys were conducted on businesses present in both baseline and follow-up surveys (n=813).
Main Results:
- A small but significant overall decrease (4.8%) in businesses with policies was observed.
- Larger businesses and those with female-dominated workforces were more likely to have policies.
- While some policies were dropped, formalization and enforcement strategies increased.
Conclusions:
- Sustained efforts are necessary to encourage and maintain workplace tobacco policies.
- Policy progression to smoke-free environments was not consistently observed.
- Interventions must address policy retention and enforcement beyond initial adoption.