Efficacy of tobacco dependence treatment in the context of a “smoke-free grounds” worksite policy: A case study

✍ Scribed by Omowunmi Y.O. Osinubi; Sharmila Sinha; Elisheva Rovner; Marla Perez-Lugo; Neetu J. Jain; Kitaw Demissie; Maurice Goldman

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 108 KB
• Volume: 46
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20020

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Smoking restrictions provide opportunities to modify smoking behavior. a large insurance company implemented a smoke-free grounds policy at two of their office complexes in january, 2000.

Methods:

This cohort study evaluated the impact of the smoke-free grounds policy on abstinence among 128 employees who participated in a tobacco dependence treatment program.

Results:

The overall quit rate at 6 months was 44.5%. the larger complex showed a trend for higher quit rates compared to the smaller complex (46.5 vs. 28.6%). post-ban participants had higher quit rates than pre-ban participants (52.4 vs. 43.0%). the probability of abstinence at 6 months follow-up was higher for post-ban compared to pre-ban participants (p = 0.03). post-ban participants were 80% less likely to relapse than pre-ban participants. non-quitters decreased their consumption by 6.6 cigarettes/day (39.1% decrease).

Conclusions:

A "smoke-free grounds" policy encourages abstinence and may play a significant role in harm reduction among continuing tobacco users.