Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

Abstract #156010

Jennifer L. Pearson, BA, MPH canidate, Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University, 2175 K St NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037, 202-631-2067, jenniferlynnpearson@gmail.com, Richard Windsor, PhD, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, 2175 K St, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037, and Ayman El-Mohandes, MD, MBBCh, MPH, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Neonatology, George Washington University Medical Center, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2175 K Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037.

Bartenders remain the only occupational group in the United States with less than 15% smoke-free workplace coverage. Evidence suggests that this occupation also has the highest ETS exposure concentration. On January 2, 2007, Washington D.C. implemented a district-wide ban of indoor smoking in all bars, restaurants, and pool halls, providing a unique opportunity to examine the impact of a new policy on a high exposure group. This study tested the hypothesis that implementation of an indoor smoking ban significantly reduced ETS exposure and associated sensory and respiratory symptoms for D.C.'s 1,950 bartenders. Using a one-group pre/post test design with participants as their own controls, a convenience sample of non-smoking bartenders and barbacks was collected in December 2006 and February 2007(n=58). The researcher assessed respiratory and sensory symptoms using a modified International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Bronchial Symptoms Questionnaire. ETS exposure was correlated to symptoms with salivary cotinine samples collected at the bars. Due to a high compliance with the law and the overall youth and good health of the sample, anticipated results include a significant drop in salivary cotinine levels (p=0.05) and a possible non-significant reduction in sensory and respiratory symptoms. This formative evaluation of a new health policy intervention could add to the evidence for the positive benefits of smoke-free indoor air laws for food service employees and support similar smoke-free indoor air laws in the United States.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the impact of D.C.’s smoke-free indoor air law on bar employee respiratory health.
• Replicate and improve upon this low cost study in other metro areas.

Keywords: Tobacco, Occupational Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.