Associations between the Smoking Status of Korean Employees and Their Work Schedule & Working Hours

Abstract

Introduction: Work schedules and working hours are known to affect the incidence of cancer, heart disease, and cardiovascular disease and are associated with unhealthy behaviors. This study evaluated the association between smoking rates in Korean adult workers and their work schedules and working hours. Methods: The analysis included data of 15,904 workers aged ≥19 years obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2017). The work schedule was categorized as day, evening, night, or shift work, and the working hours per week as ≤40 h, 40-50 h, 50-60 h, or >60 h. Associations were assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Current smokers accounted for 27.4% of the included subjects. Women who worked in the evening or at night had significantly higher smoking rates than those who worked during the day [evening work: odds ratio (OR), 1.797; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.306-2.471; night work: OR, 6.835; 95% CI, 4.075-11.461]. Smoking rates were significantly higher in both men and women who worked >60 h per week (men: OR, 1.328; 95% CI, 1.117-1.578; women: OR, 1.835; 95% CI, 1.247-2.701). Conclusion: The work schedule and working hours of adult workers in Korea influenced their smoking rates. Tobacco control policies for employees should consider the employees' work schedules and working hours.