Effect of tobacco-related policy change on smoking behavior

Institution:	University of California, San Diego
Investigator(s):	David Burns, M.D.
Award Cycle:	2002 (Cycle 11)	Grant #: 11RT-0245	Award: $303,504
Subject Area:	Public Health, Public Policy, and Economics
Award Type:	Research Project Awards

Abstracts

Initial Award Abstract

In our current research, we identified changes in tobacco-related public policy associated with increased smoking cessation in population survey data, particularly physician advice to quit and restrictions on smoking in the workplace. It is unclear whether these effects on cessation in the general population are equally shared by all Racial and Ethnic groups, by those with less educational attainment, or by those with mental illness and substance abuse. The higher prevalence and lower rates of cessation among some of these population sub-groups are driven by a variety of personal and social forces, but they may also reflect differences in exposure to these public policy interventions or differences in the impact on cessation of exposure to the policy intervention. For this grant we will examine the relationship between changes in tobacco-related public policy and smoking cessation behavior for African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, smokers with less education, smokers with mental distress and smokers who use alcohol excessively.

Specifically we will: 1. Test for differences by race/ethnicity and level of education in the effect of physician advice to quit and restrictions on workplace smoking on cessation behavior and success. 2. Determine the influence of restrictions on smoking at the workplace on the likelihood of implementing smoking restrictions in the home. 3. Evaluate whether the increased cessation associated with the presence of a tobacco control program in California and Massachusetts is present for smokers who are African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American and smokers with less education. 4. Explore the impact of workplace smoking bans and physician advice on cessation behavior and success among individuals with mental distress or excessive alcohol use.

Survey data from the California Tobacco Survey, the Current Population Survey and the National Health Interview Survey will be used to examine the relationship between the changes in tobacco-related public policy and smoking cessation for different sub-groups in the population. We will examine the reach and impact of physician advice on smoking cessation and the reach and impact of workplace smoking restrictions on smoking cessation for African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, smokers with less education, smokers with mental distress and smokers who use alcohol excessively. Because working in a smoke-free workplace is associated with implementing a smoking ban at home, we will also examine the relationship between workplace restrictions and home smoking bans for African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and smokers with less education. We will also evaluate whether the association we demonstrated between the presence of a tobacco control program in California and Massachusetts and increased smoking cessation is evident among African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and smokers with less education.

Changes in public policy have the potential to reach a large portion of the population. This grant will examine the impact of public policy interventions on cessation for different demographic sub-groups in the population.

Publications

Reducing tobacco use: What works in the population?
Periodical: Journal of Dental Education			Index Medicus:
Authors: Burns D				ART
Yr: 2002	Vol: 66	Nbr: 9	Abs:	Pg: 1051-1060

Disparities in smoke-free workplace policies among food service workers.
Periodical: Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine			Index Medicus:
Authors: Shopland D, Anderson C, Burns D, Gerlach K				ART
Yr: 2004	Vol: 46	Nbr: 4	Abs:	Pg: 347-356

Hardening and the hard-core smoker: Concepts, evidence and implications.
Periodical: Nicotine and Tobacco Research			Index Medicus:
Authors: Warner KE, Burns D				ART
Yr: 2003	Vol: 5	Nbr: 1	Abs:	Pg: 37-48

Epidemiology of smoking-induced cardiovascular disease.
Periodical: Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases			Index Medicus:
Authors: Burns D				ART
Yr: 2003	Vol: 46	Nbr: 1	Abs:	Pg: 11 - 29

Tobacco-related diseases.
Periodical: Seminars in Oncology			Index Medicus:
Authors: Burns D				ART
Yr: 2003	Vol: 19	Nbr: 4	Abs:	Pg: 244 - 249

Occupational disparities in smoke-free workplace policies in Arkansas.
Periodical: The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society			Index Medicus:
Authors: Bourne D, Shopland D, anderson A, Burns D				ART
Yr: 2004	Vol: 101	Nbr: 5	Abs:	Pg: 148 - 154

Reducing tobacco use: What works in the population?
Periodical: Journal of Dental Education			Index Medicus:
Authors: Burns D				ART
Yr: 2002	Vol: 66	Nbr: 9	Abs:	Pg: 1051-1060

Disparities in smoke-free workplace policies among food service workers.
Periodical: Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine			Index Medicus:
Authors: Shopland D, Anderson C, Burns D, Gerlach K				ART
Yr: 2004	Vol: 46	Nbr: 4	Abs:	Pg: 347-356

Hardening and the hard-core smoker: Concepts, evidence and implications.
Periodical: Nicotine and Tobacco Research			Index Medicus:
Authors: Warner KE, Burns D				ART
Yr: 2003	Vol: 5	Nbr: 1	Abs:	Pg: 37-48

Epidemiology of smoking-induced cardiovascular disease.
Periodical: Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases			Index Medicus:
Authors: Burns D				ART
Yr: 2003	Vol: 46	Nbr: 1	Abs:	Pg: 11 - 29

Tobacco-related diseases.
Periodical: Seminars in Oncology			Index Medicus:
Authors: Burns D				ART
Yr: 2003	Vol: 19	Nbr: 4	Abs:	Pg: 244 - 249

Occupational disparities in smoke-free workplace policies in Arkansas.
Periodical: The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society			Index Medicus:
Authors: Bourne D, Shopland D, anderson A, Burns D				ART
Yr: 2004	Vol: 101	Nbr: 5	Abs:	Pg: 148 - 154