Tobacco use: selection, stress, or culture?
Article Abstract:
Previous epidemiologic studies have concluded that an individual's occupation is a significant predictor of tobacco use habits. Male blue collar workers appear to be the heaviest smokers. To further explain this relation, personal, business, and environmental characteristics were sorted into two categories, selection and causation. The selection category assumes the personal characteristics that dispose workers to various occupations are likewise risk factors for smoking. These include age, sex, education, place of residence, and age at smoking onset. The causation category assumes that the characteristics of some jobs cause workers to smoke more than those of other occupations. The causation theory can be further divided into two subgroups: (1) tobacco provides a means of coping with stress; and (2) the workplace provides a group of ''culture'' norms, reinforcing or discouraging practices such as smoking. The relation between the stress and culture models is further considered. Occupation is considered a surrogate of culture in these discussions. Several hypothetical outcomes are possible: (1) occupation and job stress are both significant; (2) occupation is significant and job stress is not; and (3)job stress is significant and occupation is not. The fourth possible outcome, that neither is significant, is inconsistent with the literature and is not discussed further. The study group of 2,362 persons was drawn from a probability sample collected for another study. The criteria for the variables of occupation and stress, and the analytical methods are discussed in detail. Analysis of the results suggests that both job stress and job culture are important. If job environment is strictly limited to the occupation, job stress is important and the culture constructs are not. If the work environment is expanded to include the industry, then both stress and culture are significant. In addition, the culture concerns are more significant for white collar workers. Other results related to type of industry and ethnographic considerations are discussed. Smoking intervention programs based on these findings are reviewed. (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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A review of medical surveillance records of employees exposed to ethyleneamines
Article Abstract:
Ethyleneamines (EA), such as ethylenediamine, are made and used by industry, and are known irritants to the lungs. The health effects of long-term exposure to EA are not well known. In an attempt to determine the long-term health effects of exposure to EA, employees who had worked for one month or more in an EA production unit were identified and their medical records were reviewed. Two hundred twelve personnel were identified and information was obtained from their medical records regarding a prior history of allergy or asthma, cigarette smoking status, lung function tests, work restrictions, and symptoms of chemical exposure. The medical records of 212 employees who did not work in an EA production unit were evaluated for comparison purposes. Out of 75 employees who reported exposure to EA, there were 7 definite and 8 suspected cases of respiratory irritation, along with 23 definite and 17 suspected cases of skin irritation. Evaluation of lung function test records indicated that there was no difference in lung function between the workers in the EA production unit and those working other units; there was also no increase in mortality from respiratory disease. It is concluded that employees may have been carefully selected to work in the EA production unit by physicians who were aware of the irritant effects of EA on the lungs. (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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