Work experiences and tobacco use: findings from the gear up for health study

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationships between the work environment and amount smoked, intention to quit, and participation in a health promotion intervention.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from unionized truck drivers and dockworkers (N = 542; response rate = 78%) employed in eight trucking terminals as part of a larger intervention study targeting tobacco use cessation and weight management.

Results: Prevalence of tobacco use was 40% (n = 216). Multivariable analyses of amount smoked and coworker norms encouraging cessation found significant associations with intention to quit and negative social consequences of tobacco use. Program participation was significantly associated with concern about job exposures, working the day shift, and intention to quit.

Conclusions: Work experiences represented in the social contextual model may help explain how the work environment affects tobacco-use behaviors and interest in quitting, and maybe guide interventions among blue-collar workers.