The impact of workplace smoking ordinances in California on smoking cessation

Am J Public Health. 2000 May;90(5):757-61. doi: 10.2105/ajph.90.5.757.

Abstract

Objectives: The effect of local workplace smoking laws in California was assessed to determine whether such laws increase smoking cessation.

Methods: Workplace smoking ordinance data from 1990 were appended to 1990 California Tobacco Survey data from 4680 adult indoor workers who were current cigarette smokers or reported smoking in the 6 months before the survey. Ordinance effects on cigarette smoking and worksite policy were estimated by using multiple logistic regression controlling for sociodemographic variables.

Results: Smokers who worked in localities with a strong workplace ordinance (compared with no workplace ordinance) were more likely to report the existence of a worksite smoking policy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 2.2) and to report quitting smoking in the prior 6 months (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.1, 1.7). In communities with strong ordinances, an estimated 26.4% of smokers quit smoking within 6 months of the survey and were abstinent at the time of the survey, compared with an estimated 19.1% in communities with no ordinance.

Conclusions: Workplace smoking ordinances increased smoking cessation among employed smokers, indicating that these laws may benefit smokers as well as nonsmokers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • California / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Occupational Exposure / prevention & control*
  • Occupational Health / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Organizational Policy
  • Program Evaluation
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Smoking Cessation / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Smoking Cessation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Smoking Prevention*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace / legislation & jurisprudence*