305581
Effectiveness of a Tobacco-Free Medical Campus Policy on Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Tobacco Use Prevalence, and Health Outcomes among Military Medical Employees
Although all Army Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) prohibit tobacco use within their buildings, prior to 2012, no MTF had implemented a comprehensive tobacco-free campus (TFC) policy. This evaluation examined the effectiveness of the first Army installation’s TFC policy implementation at its medical campuses (MTF, dental, and veterinary clinics).
Methods
An independent evaluation team distributed online baseline questionnaires prior to policy implementation (June 2012, N=1,143) and 12 months following policy implementation (July 2013, N=1,147) to medical campus employees. Chi-square analyses, independent t-tests, and multivariate models were utilized to examine changes in employees’ satisfaction, secondhand smoke exposure, tobacco use, quit rates, and health outcomes over time.
Results
Employees reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction with a TFC policy than the original policy (p<.001). After controlling for demographic characteristics, employees had twice the odds of exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace at baseline than 12-month follow-up (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.73-2.46, P<.001). Employees also reported a lower prevalence of diagnosis with chronic bronchitis (p<.05) at follow-up compared to baseline. Although the mean number of sick days taken for respiratory illness decreased over time, results were not significant after controlling for demographic characteristics. No significant differences existed in tobacco use prevalence or quit rates among tobacco users over time.
Conclusions
The first TFC policy on Army medical campuses was successful in increasing employee satisfaction with the policy, reducing secondhand smoke exposure, and improving some short-term health outcomes. The policy had no effect on tobacco use prevalence. Implications for future TFC policies within the military will be discussed.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practiceOccupational health and safety
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe the first Army Tobacco Free Campus Policy implemented at one installation’s medical campuses.
Discuss effects of the Tobacco Free Campus Policy on employees’ satisfaction, exposure to secondhand smoke, tobacco use, quit rates, and health outcomes 12 months after policy implementation.
Compare observed effects across various demographic factors including Active Duty status, gender, age, and tobacco use history.
Keyword(s): Evaluation, Tobacco Control
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a public health program evaluations subject matter expert in the U.S. Army. My education, training, and professional practice have centered around program evaluation. I am the lead investigator on this project.
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.