Socioeconomic Variation in Smoke-Free Policies among Smokers
Author Information
Author(s): King Brian A., Hyland Andrew J., Borland Ron, McNeill Ann, Cummings K. Michael
Primary Institution: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Hypothesis
How does socioeconomic status affect the prevalence and retention of smoke-free policies among smokers?
Conclusion
Higher socioeconomic status is associated with greater presence and retention of smoke-free home policies, but not with public smoking bans.
Supporting Evidence
- Smokers with high SES had increased odds of having and introducing a total ban on smoking in the home.
- Continuing smokers with high SES had decreased odds of removing a total ban.
- No consistent association was observed between SES and the presence or introduction of bans in worksites, bars, or restaurants.
Takeaway
People with more money are more likely to have rules against smoking in their homes, but this isn't the case for places like bars and restaurants.
Methodology
Data were collected through telephone interviews from current and former smokers in four countries, with a total of 8,245 participants.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported measures and exclusion of certain demographics.
Limitations
Data were self-reported, and respondents with missing education or income data were excluded.
Participant Demographics
Participants included current and former adult smokers from Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.27–2.87
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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