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. 2009 Jan;6(1):A17.
Epub 2008 Dec 15.

The impact of a communitywide smoke-free ordinance on smoking among older adults

John D Prochaska  1 , James N Burdine, Kendra Bigsby, Marcia G Ory, Joseph R Sharkey, Kenneth R McLeroy, Nelda Mier, Brian Colwell
Affiliations

The impact of a communitywide smoke-free ordinance on smoking among older adults

John D Prochaska et al. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Jan.

Abstract

Introduction: Clean-air and smoke-free ordinances have been shown to reduce the prevalence of smoking among the overall population, but their effects on the smoking prevalence among older adults deserves further attention. We examined changes in self-reported cigarette smoking and in attitudes toward smoking after the implementation of such ordinances in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2003.

Methods: Communitywide health status surveys were mailed out to northern Larimer County residents recruited via random-digit dialing in 2001 and 2004. Secondary data analysis was conducted for respondents living in Fort Collins, comparing the entire sample with a subsample of adults aged 50 years or older. Univariate analyses were used to determine differences in self-reported cigarette smoking between the groups across the 2 surveys. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated differences in smoking status and in attitudes toward acceptability of public smoking between the 2 survey administrations, controlling for demographic correlates.

Results: Smoking rates among older respondents failed to change, despite significant decreases in smoking rates in the entire adult population. Furthermore, attitudes toward smoking in public did not change between the 2 surveys for either of the groups.

Conclusion: Different factors may influence the decision to stop smoking for older adults and younger adults. We recommend the use of multiple approaches on different ecological levels to ensure that communitywide antismoking intervention efforts reach all population segments.

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Figures

This flow chart depicts that 4,381 participants in 2001 and 6,718 in 2004 were successfully contacted. Of these participants, 3,198 and 4,434, in 2001 and 2004, respectively, were sent a survey packet. Of these, 3,125 and 4,358 participants received survey packets in 2001 and 2004, respectively, and 73 and 76 packets were returned as undeliverable, respectively. Of those who successfully received the surveys 2,295 and 2,809 returned completed surveys in 2001 and 2004, respectively; 23 and 4 surveys were not significantly complete for these years, respectively. The final dataset included 2,272 and 2,805 surveys; 591 and 1,088 of these surveys were completed by residents who lived outside Fort Collins and 1,681 and 1,717 respondents resided in Fort Collins. In 2001 and 2004, 1 and 28 respondents, respectively, were excluded due to age. The final analysis included 1,680 and 1,689 respondents in 2001 and 2004, respectively. The 50-plus age group subsample was 670 and 715 respondents in 2001 and 2004, respectively.
Figure 1
Recruitment flow chart for survey on current smoking status and attitudes toward smoking, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2001 and 2004.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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