Abstract

ISSUE ADDRESSED
New Zealand's (NZ) smokefree legislation, implemented on 1 January 2004, requires that all school and early childhood centre buildings and grounds are 100% smokefree; one aim being to prevent young people being influenced by seeing people (including teachers) smoke there. This study, conducted in 2008, investigated teachers'smoking behaviour and perceived adherence to the legislation.
METHODS
A national NZ cross-sectional survey of 2,004 teachers (oversampling Māori), who were randomly selected from the electoral roll of registered voters and sent postal invitations to complete an anonymous survey.
RESULTS
The response rate was 70%. Current smokers numbered 7%, and proportionately more Maori and Pacific Island teachers (12% each) smoked than European/Other teachers (7%). Of current smokers, 37% smoked non-daily. Smokers smoked less on work than non-work days. Introducing smokefree legislation was associated with teachers changing when they smoked, cutting down, quitting or trying to quit. Perceived compliance with the legislation was high, although 30% of teachers reported seeing staff smoking. Proportionately, significantly more teachers from low than from high socioeconomic schools perceived poor compliance and staff visibly smoking.
CONCLUSIONS
Smokefree legislation affects people's smoking behaviour. Smoking in NZ is becoming confined to population subgroups defined by socioeconomic status and ethnicity. Our findings argue for supporting cessation among those who work with children and young people, and for targeting support at school communities in areas of low socioeconomic status or with large populations of Māori or Pacific peoples.

Links

Aggregator Full Text

Authors

Watson D, Glover M, McCool J, Bullen C, Adams B, Min S

Institution

Centre for Tobacco Control Research, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Source

Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals 22:3 2011 Dec pg 166-71

MeSH

Adult
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Child
Child Day Care Centers
Continental Population Groups
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environmental Exposure
European Continental Ancestry Group
Faculty
Female
Humans
Legislation as Topic
Male
Middle Aged
New Zealand
Oceanic Ancestry Group
Perception
Schools
Sex Factors
Smoking
Socioeconomic Factors
Students
Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22497058