Support for and observance of worksite smoking restriction policies - A study of municipal employees at a city office in Japan

Background. While various types of smoking restrictions have been introduce d in Japanese workplaces, it is not clear what restriction policies workers find acceptable. This study examined the relationship between the extent o f worksite smoking restriction and worker attitudes toward these policies. Methods. Municipal employees randomly selected from a city office were surv eyed using a self-administered, questionnaire concerning support for and sm okers' observance of their present smoking restriction. A total of 2857 (88 .6%) workers responded. Results, More than 60% of respondents regarded a work-area ban with a desig nated smoking space as the most desirable policy. Among subjects who were a ware of the current policies in their workplaces, positive support was high est for a total ban (73.9%) and decreased as the extent of the restriction became milder (P for trend <0.001). In contrast, an inverse relation was fo und for negative support (P for trend <0.001). These trends were observed a mong both nonsmokers and smokers. Smokers subject to a work-area ban observ ed the policy more faithfully than those subject to milder policies. Conclusions. Policies prohibiting smoking in work areas were favorably acce pted by municipal employees, irrespective of smoking status. These results should encourage Japanese workplaces to adopt work-area bans, through which nonsmokers are effectively protected from environmental tobacco smoke. (C) 1999 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.