Tobacco policy regression in Arizona worksites.

PURPOSE

To learn how worksite tobacco policies in Arizona changed between 1998 and 2001.

DESIGN

Telephone survey panel design.

SETTING

Arizona.

SUBJECTS

Private workplaces with at least five employees (N = 1008).

MEASURES

Workplace policies were rated as "smoke free" (no smoking by employees in any indoor areas or in company vehicles except for designated smoking areas enclosed by physical barriers and having separate ventilation systems), "partial" policies (restrictive tobacco policies that did not meet the "smoke-free" standard), or no tobacco policy.

ANALYSIS

Bivariate statistical tests included chi2 and analysis of variance. Logistic regression was performed to identify the variables that best predicted the workplaces that weakened or eliminated their policies.

RESULTS

. Tobacco policy in Arizona worksites improved overall, but 10.8% of worksites had weakened or eliminated tobacco policies present at baseline. Among worksites that were smoke free at baseline, 15.5% were no longer smoke free at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

. Policy regression is a disturbing finding that should be further explored. Our findings suggest that efforts to promote workplace tobacco policies should not end when policies are in place.