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Tobacco Use Among Healthcare Workers: Impact of a Worksite Policy Change at a US Military Community Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2015

Margaret Ryan ,
Devan Romero ,
Jerlyn Tolentino ,
Ian Hammett ,
Danielle Robins ,
Jonathan Volden  and
Kim Pulvers
Margaret Ryan*
Affiliation:
Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, California University of California, San Diego, California
Devan Romero
Affiliation:
California State University, San Marcos, California
Jerlyn Tolentino
Affiliation:
Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, California
Ian Hammett
Affiliation:
Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, California
Danielle Robins
Affiliation:
Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, California
Jonathan Volden
Affiliation:
California State University, San Marcos, California
Kim Pulvers
Affiliation:
California State University, San Marcos, California
*
Address for correspondence: Dr. Margaret Ryan, Building H200, Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introductions: Healthcare workers use less tobacco than other working populations. In contrast, US military members use more tobacco than civilians. Military healthcare workers, therefore, represent a unique group with regard to occupational factors that may influence tobacco use.

Aims/Methods: Records of workers at a military community hospital were reviewed to describe tobacco use. An anonymous survey assessed impressions of a worksite policy change that prohibited tobacco use anywhere on hospital grounds.

Results: Hospital staff included 2,074 professionals. Tobacco use was significantly associated with male sex and being a military enlisted worker. In fact, 37% of male enlisted members used tobacco; fewer than 10% of all other workers used tobacco. Among 232 survey respondents, 61% agreed with tobacco-restrictive worksite policies, but only 33% thought policies were effective. Nearly one-third of tobacco users reported decreasing use in the past year. In multivariable modelling, changing habits in response to worksite policy was the only factor significantly associated with decreased tobacco use.

Conclusions: Tobacco use among US military healthcare workers varies markedly by demographic characteristics. Male, military enlisted workers use tobacco at very high rates, paralleling the troops they serve. Implementation of tobacco-restrictive worksite policies is associated with decreased tobacco use in this population.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Smoking Cessation , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , June 2017 , pp. 113 - 121
Creative Commons
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015

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