Is the implementation of smoke-free policies at workplaces associated with living in a smoke-free home?: Findings from a national population-based study in Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction Studies have shown that the implementation of smoke-free policies at workplaces have shifted the social norms towards secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home. This study aimed to investigate whether working in a smokefree workplace is associated with living in a smoke-free home (SFH). Methods The data were derived from the Malaysian Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-M), collected in 2011–2012, involving 4250 respondents. Data analyses involved 1343 respondents reported to be in the working population. Results More than half of the respondents (58.5%) were reportedly working in smoke-free workplaces. Almost a quarter (24.8%) of those who worked in smokefree workplaces stayed in smoke-free homes, which was more than two times higher than their counterparts who worked at non-smoke-free workplaces (24.8% vs 12.0%, p<0.001). Multivariable analyses further substantiated this finding (AOR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.11–3.61, reference group = worked at non-smoke-free workplaces). Conclusions This study found an association between living in smoke-free homes and working at smoke-free workplaces, which could suggest a positive impact of implementing smoke-free workplaces.

Keywords

• secondhand smoke
• smokefree home
• smoke-free workplace
• population-based study
• Global Adult Tobacco Survey–Malaysia