Effectiveness of Workplace-Based Tobacco Awareness Interventions on Quit Readiness Among Bus Drivers: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality.
• Bus drivers face unique occupational risks, including stress and long hours, increasing susceptibility to tobacco use.
• Workplace-based tobacco education programs offer a strategic platform for smoking cessation interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based tobacco education versus basic health education (BHE) in enhancing smoking cessation readiness among bus drivers.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on participants' progression through the transtheoretical model (TTM) stages of change.

Main Methods:

• A randomized comparative pilot trial involving 40 active male smoker bus drivers.
• Participants were randomized into either a CBT-based or BHE-based tobacco awareness program.
• The transtheoretical model (TTM) stages of change were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 6 months.

Main Results:

• Both interventions showed improvements, but the CBT group demonstrated significantly greater progression towards preparation and action stages at 4 weeks (p=0.033).
• At 6 months, the CBT group showed substantially greater advancement towards action and maintenance stages (p=0.001).
• Baseline stage distributions were comparable between groups (p=0.751).

Conclusions:

• Workplace tobacco awareness programs integrating CBT are more effective than BHE for increasing smoking cessation readiness in bus drivers, as indicated by TTM stage progression.
• Findings suggest CBT-based programs are a promising strategy for occupational smoking cessation.
• Further research with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up, and objective cessation measures is recommended to validate these pilot findings.