Accuracy of self-reported smoking and secondhand smoke exposure in the US workforce: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
Authors
Arheart-KL; Lee-DJ; Fleming-LE; LeBlanc-WG; Dietz-NA; McCollister-KE; Wilkinson-JD; Lewis-JE; Clark-JD III; Davila-EP; Bandiera-FC; Erard-MJ
Source
J Occup Environ Med 2008 Dec; 50(12):1414-1420
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Occupational health studies often rely on self-reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study examines the accuracy of self-reported tobacco use and SHS exposure. METHODS: Data on serum cotinine, self-reported tobacco use, and SHS exposure for US workers were extracted from three National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (n = 17,011). Serum cotinine levels were used to classify workers into SHS exposure categories. The percent agreement between self-reported tobacco use and SHS exposure with the cotinine categories was calculated. RESULTS: Workers reporting tobacco use were 88% accurate whereas workers reporting work, home, or home+work exposures were 87% to 92% accurate. Workers reporting no SHS exposure were only 28% accurate. CONCLUSIONS: Workers accurately reported their smoking status and workplace-home SHS exposures, but substantial numbers reporting "no exposures" had detectable levels of cotinine in their blood, indicating exposure to SHS.
Keywords
Exposure-methods; Health-hazards; Laboratory-testing; Public-health; Questionnaires; Smoking; Statistical-analysis; Tobacco-constituents; Tobacco-smoke; Workers; Worker-health
Contact
Kristopher L. Arheart, EdD, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Clinical Research Building, 10th Floor (R669), 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
KArheart@med.miami.edu
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-003915
Source Name
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Performing Organization
University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
