1 Smoking Prevalence and Healthcare Provider Smoking Cessation Advice among US Worker Groups: The National Health Interview Survey Smoking is the most preventable cause of premature mortality in the U.S. Among workers in dusty occupations, tobacco use is particularly important due to the potential synergistic health effects of occupational exposures One of the most effective forms of smoking prevention is for the healthcare provider to recommend smoking cessation to their patient. Lee DJ, Christ SL, Arheart K, Chung-Bridges K, LeBlanc W, Caban A, Fleming LE, Pitman T Dept Epidemiology & Public Health (U. of Miami Miller School of Medicine), Odum Research Institute (UNC Chapel Hill, NC)

2 Methods Data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was used to estimate pooled smoking prevalence rates in worker groups (n=136,044 workers > 18 years of age) Cancer Control Module was used to estimate the prevalence of workers advised to quit smoking (n=19,702 workers). Smokers were asked to indicate in the past 12 months if a medical doctor or other health care provider ASKED about tobacco usage. Smokers reporting yes were then asked if they were ADVISED to quit using tobacco products

3 Results 82% of workers reported a health care contact in the previous 12 months; range: 55% in construction laborers to 94% in the health diagnosing occupations Nearly 26% of adult US worker population reported smoking (pooled rates) Nearly 45% of smokers with healthcare encounters in the previous 12 months were advised to quit Reported quitting advice during health care provider contacts ranged from 59% in health service workers to 17% in construction laborers

4 Results

5 Conclusion/Recommendations Less than half of employed smokers with a healthcare contact in the previous 12 months reported being advised to quit smoking There is no evidence that healthcare providers are especially vigilant about providing this advice to smokers employed in high risk occupations (e.g., construction) New efforts are needed to reduce smoking rates in the working population, including: – –interventions designed to increase effective delivery of smoking cessation advice by healthcare providers – –smoking cessation services targeting workers who do not routinely have contact with health care providers Thank you / Questions?