Differences among smokers, nonsmokers and former smokers : an investigation of health care workers /

Abstract

The study consisted of two hundred and six employees from two hospitals. The 38-item questionnaire asked respondents to answer questions regarding behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge concerning smoking cigarettes in general and workplace smoking policies. The percentage of this study that reported they were smokers was 15.5%. A linear regression analysis was performed to assess the predictability of beliefs about smoking in general and workplace smoking policies as a function of actual smoking behavior. Both regression analyses displayed moderate strength r2 = .29 on general beliefs and knowledge about smoking and r2 = .18 on workplace smoking policies. ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate differences among smokers, never smokers and former smokers in terms of knowledge and beliefs about smoking in general (p< .01) and in attitudes about workplace smoking policies (p= .019). Cigarette smokers were more likely to have beliefs that would favor smoking behavior than nonsmokers or former smokers. They also tended to have less knowledge of the effects of smoking. In terms of workplace smoking policy, there were differences between smokers and nonsmokers, however the differences were not as great as they were in terms of general knowledge and beliefs.