Workplace Smoking Cessation in Costa Rica: Pilot Study Findings

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death in Costa Rica.
• Workplaces offer a strategic setting for smoking cessation interventions due to significant time spent at work.
• A pilot workplace smoking cessation program was designed for Costa Rican Justice Department employees.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a workplace smoking cessation program tailored to Costa Rican cultural values.
• To assess the impact of social factors on smoking cessation within a government employee population.

Main Methods:

• Focus groups with smokers and ex-smokers identified social factors as crucial for quitting.
• Two seven-session programs were conducted with 14 participants, emphasizing family and ex-smoker support.
• Data on smoking behavior and social influence were collected pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• A 36% quit rate (5 out of 14 participants) was achieved.
• Quitters were significantly less likely to live with smokers compared to non-quitters.
• Quitters had fewer friends and coworkers who smoked than non-quitters.

Conclusions:

• Workplace smoking cessation interventions should actively promote increased social contact with non-smokers and ex-smokers.
• Programs should evaluate social networks (family, friends, coworkers) alongside smoking patterns.
• Encouraging smokers to seek support from non-smoking social contacts can enhance cessation success.