The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72463

Julia A. Lee, PhD, Health Science Department, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, 562.985.2301, julee@csulb.edu, David W. Bradley, PhD, Academic Computing Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, William Feigelman, PhD, Sociology Department, Nassau Community College, 1 Education Drive, Garden City, NY 11530, and Robert H. Friis, PhD, Department of Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE. California’s workplace smoking bans, designed to protect workers from secondhand smoke, are likely to have additional health benefits through influences on smoking behavior. This study aimed to describe changes in smoking and related attitudes toward tobacco and tobacco control policy, observed between the first (1998) and third (2000) year of the Smokefree-Bars Law. METHODS. Questionnaires were administered by telephone in English or Spanish to random samples of 1500 Long Beach residents, at least 18 years old, at the end of 1998 and 2000. Data files for the surveys were combined and compared using chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA. RESULTS. From 1998 to 2000 prevalence of smokers remained 18%, but former smokers increased from 24% to 28%. Mean number of cigarettes smoked per day did not change, nor did proportions of smokers grouped by category of numbers smoked. Age varied across smoker status (quitters were oldest), with a significant smoking status by year interaction, due to a decrease in age for quitters, from 48 years to 43. Daily smoking decreased from 80% of smokers to 72%, and home smoking bans increased from 75% to 79%. Attitudes toward tobacco and tobacco-control policy varied by smoking status and smoker category, with varying results for the interactions by year. CONCLUSIONS. These changes in smoking behaviors and associated attitudes are most likely related to general California tobacco control policies, which include smoking bans for a variety of locations, anti-tobacco education, and an increase in the price of cigarettes.

Learning Objectives:

As a result of this learning experience, the learner will
• Describe the changes in smoking for Long Beach residents from year one to year three of the Smokefree-Bars Law.
• Relate smoking status to variables of age, daily smoking, numbers of cigarettes smoked, home smoking ban, anti-tobacco attitudes, and approval for the Smokefree-Bars Law.
• State the types of tobacco control policies in the State of California and appreciate their potential influence on smoking behavior.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Tobacco Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.