261843 Association between smokefree laws and nondaily smokers and chippers: An analysis using measures which capture subcounty law coverage

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Mariaelena Gonzalez, PhD , Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Ashley Sanders-Jackson, PhD , Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Anna V. Song, PhD , Psychological Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA
Stan Glantz, PhD , Department Medicine, School UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA
Background: Many current studies of smokefree law coverage misclassify the number of individuals covered by 100% smokefree laws by failing to account for ordinances passed below the county level as well as the coverage of county laws in different states. Furthermore, data from California indicates that strong smokefree laws may be associated with decreased consumption as well as quitting. This study examines whether coverage by 100% indoor smokefree laws in the United States is associated with being a nondaily smoker or “chipper” (daily smoker consuming 1-5 cigarettes/day) using measures that capture subcounty smokefree ordinances.

Methods: We combined the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation Local Ordinance Database with Census Estimated Population Data to calculate the percentage of county population covered by 100% smokefree restaurant, bar, governmental workplaces, and private workplace laws. We merged this data with the 2007 Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey. We constructed a binary variable that indicated whether or not an individual was covered by all four 100% laws or not. Controlling for demographics, social economic status, and racial/ethnic status, we used a binary logistic regression to test whether coverage by four 100% smokefree laws was associated with being either a chipper or nondaily smoker.

Results: Being covered by four 100% smokefree laws was positively associated with being a chipper (OR=1.26, CI=1.16, 1.38), nondaily smoker (OR=1.06, CI=1.00, 1.13), or nonsmoker (OR=1.07, CI=1.04, 1.1).

Conclusion: Our analysis illustrates how to construct measures capturing subcounty law coverage. In 2007, strong smokefree coverage is associated with decreased cigarette consumption.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe possible reasons for the relationship between comprehensive smokefree coverage and low cigarette consumption or quitting. 2. Discuss why capturing subcounty legislation is important for understanding the relationship between health behaviors and public heath laws.

Keywords: Tobacco Legislation, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am primarily responsible for the design and execution of this research. I have a Ph.D. in Sociology and have completed postdoctoral training in Tobacco Control. Among my scientific interests are the effects of health-related public policy on health behaviors.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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