Controlling Cigarette Smoking in the Workplace in Taiwan: Opportunities and Challenges

Wen, Chi Pang; Hu, Susan C.; Huang, Sheu Jen; Tsai, Shan P.; Cheng, Ting

doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3190031

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Contrary to the observation in the US and Taiwan, large and blue-collar companies in the present study were more likely to promote SC [ 2 , 4 , 13 ]. Large companies are led by written regulations and more likely to comply with the smoke-free workplace ordinance while small/medium companies were more likely to rely on informal communication and to respect individual freedom of smoking [ 2 ].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Similar study is scarce in Asian countries. One study has shown that less than half of the companies in Taiwan adopted smoke-free policy [ 4 ]. Regarding the low adoption rate, employers expressed their concerns on the lack of perceived responsibility for maintaining a smoke-free workplace, the insufficient knowledge on the impact of smoking on the company and employees, and the worries about undermining employee’s morale and customer’s satisfaction [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Association between employer’s knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation and voluntary promotion in workplace: a survey study

Wang¹,

Suen²,

Cheung

et al. 2017

Tob. Induced Dis.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundWorkplace smoking cessation (SC) intervention is effective in increasing quit rate but little was known about the factors associated with voluntary SC promotion. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation, including banning smoking in all indoor area of workplaces, has been enforced in Hong Kong. This survey investigated the prevalence of company’s compliance with smoke-free legislation and examined the relation between voluntary SC promotion in workplace and employer’s knowledge of and attitude towards smoking and SC.MethodsHalf (50.3%, n = 292) of a convenience sample of companies completed a self-administered questionnaire on company’s voluntary SC promotion in the workplace. Factors investigated included company’s characteristics (size, type, and number of smoking employees); employers’ knowledge of smoking, second-hand smoke and SC effects on health; perceived responsibility in assisting employees to quit smoking and smoking prohibition in workplace (smoke free policy). Logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for voluntary SC promotion.ResultsA notable proportion of companies (14.7%) showed non-compliance with the smoke free workplace ordinance and only 10% voluntarily promoted SC. Perceived greater negative impact of smoking on the company (adjusted odds ratio[aOR] 1.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-3.20) and better knowledge of smoking (aOR 1.40, 95%CI 1.00-1.94) were associated with voluntary SC promotion. Positive but non-significant associations were observed between perceived responsibility of assisting employees to quit, workplace smoke free policy and voluntary SC promotion. Company characteristics were generally not associated with voluntary SC promotion except white collar companies were less likely to promote SC (aOR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.85).ConclusionsThis is the first survey on company’s SC promotion in the Chinese population. A notable proportion of companies was not compliant with the smoke-free workplace ordinance. Employers with a higher level of knowledge and perceived impact of smoking on companies and from blue-collar companies were more likely to promote SC in workplace. The findings inform future workplace intervention design and policy.Trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02179424) dated 27 June 2014.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between employer’s knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation and voluntary promotion in workplace: a survey study

Wang¹,

Suen²,

Cheung

et al. 2017

Tob. Induced Dis.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Associated implications to policy issues have been addressed elsewhere. 28 The loss of productivity and costs associated with worker replacement due to smoking related premature mortality were not included in this paper. While reducing smoking will clearly lead to a reduction in premature mortality and increased productivity, these will not happen immediately.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workplace smoking related absenteeism and productivity costs in Taiwan

Tsai¹

2005

Tob Control

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To estimate productivity losses and financial costs to employers caused by cigarette smoking in the Taiwan workplace. Methods: The human capital approach was used to calculate lost productivity. Assuming the value of lost productivity was equal to the wage/salary rate and basing the calculations on smoking rate in the workforce, average days of absenteeism, average wage/salary rate, and increased risk and absenteeism among smokers obtained from earlier research, costs due to smoker absenteeism were estimated. Financial losses caused by passive smoking, smoking breaks, and occupational injuries were calculated. Results: Using a conservative estimate of excess absenteeism from work, male smokers took off an average of 4.36 sick days and male non-smokers took off an average of 3.30 sick days. Female smokers took off an average of 4.96 sick days and non-smoking females took off an average of 3.75 sick days. Excess absenteeism caused by employee smoking was estimated to cost US$178 million per annum for males and US$6 million for females at a total cost of US$184 million per annum. The time men and women spent taking smoking breaks amounted to nine days per year and six days per year, respectively, resulting in reduced output productivity losses of US$733 million. Increased sick leave costs due to passive smoking were approximately US$81 million. Potential costs incurred from occupational injuries among smoking employees were estimated to be US$34 million. Conclusions: Financial costs caused by increased absenteeism and reduced productivity from employees who smoke are significant in Taiwan. Based on conservative estimates, total costs attributed to smoking in the workforce were approximately US$1032 million.

show abstract

“…ETS is a significant threat to public health, associated with various cancers, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory impairment. [1][2][3] Acknowledging the scientific evidence of the benefits of smoke-free environments, the number of people covered by smoke-free laws has increased exponentially in recent years achieving significant gains for public health in Ireland, Cyprus, UK, many US states, and most recently Greece. [4][5][6][7][8] Research has indicated that people become less tolerant of exposure to ETS as they become accustomed to smoke-free environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of the non-smoker in enforcing smoke-free laws

Vardavas

Dimitrakaki

Schoretsaniti

et al. 2010

J Public Health Pol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Compliance with laws making certain environments smoke free has focused mainly on smokers' behavior, while the role of non-smokers has scarcely been investigated. Our cross-sectional study interviewed 4043 adults (2037 smokers and 2006 non-smokers) in the general population of Greece during April 2009. Non-smokers reported that they would actively work for compliance with the law. The non-smokers were older, more educated (odds ratio, OR 1.4), and were more likely to be annoyed by the smell of environmental tobacco smoke (OR 2.4) or report that it irritates their eyes (OR 1.8). Policymakers should evaluate how non-smokers could actively support smoke-free laws through reporting of violations using media campaigns that inform them of their rights, and other measures.

show abstract

Controlling Cigarette Smoking in the Workplace in Taiwan: Opportunities and Challenges

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Association between employer’s knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation and voluntary promotion in workplace: a survey study

Association between employer’s knowledge and attitude towards smoking cessation and voluntary promotion in workplace: a survey study

Workplace smoking related absenteeism and productivity costs in Taiwan

The role of the non-smoker in enforcing smoke-free laws

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About