Skeer M, George S, Hamilton WL, Cheng DM, Siegel M
Town-level characteristics and smoking policy adoption in Massachusetts: are local restaurant smoking regulations fostering disparities in health protection? [Journal Article]
Am J Public Health 2004 Feb; 94(2):286-92.
OBJECTIVES: We identified and quantified differences in sociodemographic characteristics of communities relative to the strength of local restaurant smoking regulations in Massachusetts.
METHODS: We examined the relationship between the strength of the 351 local restaurant smoking regulations in Massachusetts and a number of town-level characteristics, using a multinomial logistic regression model.
RESULTS: Characteristics important to the adoption of stronger restaurant smoking regulations included higher education and per capita income, geographic region, voter support for a state cigarette tax initiative, board of health funding to promote clean indoor air policy making, and the presence of a bordering town with a strong regulation.
CONCLUSIONS: The current pattern of smoke-free restaurant policy enactment fosters socioeconomic and geographic disparities in health protection, undermining an important national health goal.
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