Journal of Urban Health
Volume 84, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 360-371

The relative effect of household and workplace smoking restriction on health status among Chinese Americans living in New York City (Article)

Shelley D.* , Yerneni R. , Hung D. , Das D. , Fahs M.
  • a Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
  • b Brookdale Center on Aging, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
  • c Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, United States
  • d Economics Program Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
  • e Brookdale Center on Aging, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States, Economics Program Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Households and workplaces are the predominant location for exposure to secondhand smoke. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between health status and smoking restrictions at home and work and to compare the relative effect of household and workplace smoking restrictions on health status. This study uses data from a cross sectional representative probability sample of 2,537 Chinese American adults aged 18-74 living in New York City. The analysis was limited to 1,472 respondents who work indoors for wages. Forty-three percent of respondents reported a total smoking ban at home and the workplace, 20% at work only, 22% home only, and 15% reported no smoking restriction at home or work. Smokers who live under a total household smoking ban only or both a total household and total workplace ban were respectively 1.90 and 2.61 times more likely to report better health status compared with those who reported no smoking ban at work or home. Before the NYC Clean Indoor Air Act second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure among this immigrant Chinese population at home and work was high. This study finds that household smoking restrictions are more strongly associated with better health status than workplace smoking restrictions. However, better health status was most strongly associated with both a ban at work and home. Public health efforts should include a focus on promoting total household smoking bans to reduce the well-documented health risks of SHS exposure. © 2007 The New York Academy of Medicine.

Author Keywords

Chinese americans adults Health status Smoking restrictions tobacco

Index Keywords

immigrant household health promotion human ambient air controlled study priority journal probability health status Aged United States smoking cessation cross-sectional study workplace male Asian American female environmental exposure Article adult public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34248333841&doi=10.1007%2fs11524-007-9190-6&partnerID=40&md5=570b14d8ca57f9d999cc25436dddb8aa
DOI: 10.1007/s11524-007-9190-6
ISSN: 10993460
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English