Effect of a total work-site smoking ban on employee smoking attitudes
Article Abstract:
In 1965, the Surgeon General reported that cigarette smoking is a causal or facilitating factor in the development of lung and bladder cancer, cardiovascular disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Twenty-five years later, the adverse effect of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke, has been shown to contribute to lung cancer, to increase the risk of death from coronary artery disease, and to exacerbate asthma. The overall losses attributable to smoking, active or passive, are in the billions of dollars. As a consequence of these health risks and their attendant economic implications, various companies, buildings, and institutions initiated work-site smoke cessation clinics, restricted or prohibited smoking on-site, and made many other efforts to prevent smoking. In 1983, the Duke University Medical Center initiated efforts to restrict smoking and the sale of tobacco products. Many approaches were considered and restrictive policies increased until a smoke-free policy was implemented in 1988. The adjacent Duke University campus had no such restrictions. Three months after the policy was initiated, a telephone survey of 400 employees from each of the two campus areas was conducted. Demographic data, smoking history (number of years of smoking and number of cigarettes smoked per day, number of cessation attempts), and comments on the work-site restrictions were collected. Six months prior to the new rules, it was determined that approximately 23 percent of medical school and 20 percent of the university employees were smokers. Three months later, cessation rates at the medical school were 12.6 percent, and 6.9 percent at the university. The work-site smoking ban led to a statistically significant increase in smoking cessation. Mean cigarette consumption diminished during work hours. Smoke-free policies at the work place, in conjunction with other reduction efforts, can influence the overall reduction in tobacco consumption. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1991
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Synergism in work site adoption of employee assistance programs and health promotion activities
Article Abstract:
Two innovations in human resource management have been the development of employee assistance programs (EAPs), and health promotion activities (HPAs). Both of these programs have been well received by both employees and employers over the past 10 years. HPAs are considered primary prevention, and usually center around stopping smoking, weight loss, exercise, and control of high blood pressure. EAPs are secondary prevention methods, which identify and help troubled employees who need assistance to maintain their jobs. These programs provide benefits to both employee and employer by improving employee health, reducing employers' health care costs, and increasing productivity. To determine what, if any, synergy (two systems working simultaneously to enhance the function and effect of one another) exists in patterns of adoption between EAPs and HPAs, an analysis of 1,358 worksites was performed. Data was obtained from the 1985 National Survey of Worksite Health Promotion Activities. Adoption of EAPs appeared to influence HPAs adoption, rather than the reverse; this would suggest a synergistic relationship. The best predictor of the presence of a EAP or a HPA was the presence of the other program (HPA or EAP). It is also reported that there is little commonality in program content in organizations having an HPA. It is recommended that EAPs and HPAs be implemented based upon what each is able to provide, and they should not be required to compete with each other for resources. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1990
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