Abstract
Policy at the local level is a critical component of comprehensive tobacco control programs. This study examined the relationships of individual and social factors with support for tobacco-related public policy using cross-sectional data (n = 4461) from adults participating in a statewide survey. Weighted multivariate, multinomial logistic regression examined associations between individual and social factors and support for tobacco-free city properties and support for limiting the number of stores that sell tobacco near schools. Oklahomans were more likely to favor policies that create tobacco-free city properties than policies that limit the number of stores that sell tobacco near schools. While non-smokers were most likely to favor both policies, support for both policies was greater than 50% among current smokers. Knowledge of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure harm and female gender were predictors of support for both policies and among current, former, and never smokers. Rural-urban status was a predictor of support among former smokers and never smokers. Tobacco use among friends and family was only a predictor among never smokers’ support for limiting the sale of tobacco near schools. This study demonstrates that level of support differs by policy type, individual smoking status, as well as among subpopulations, and identifies critical elements in the theory of change for tobacco control programs.
Highlights
Introduction“Oklahoma has been slow to experience statewide tobacco control and prevention policy wins that have been associated with reduced prevalence in other states
Oklahoma has one of the highest tobacco prevalence rates in the nation
This study showed that the majority of Oklahomans favor policies that establish city property as tobacco-free and that limit the sale of tobacco near schools
Summary
“Oklahoma has been slow to experience statewide tobacco control and prevention policy wins that have been associated with reduced prevalence in other states. This is due in part to the powerful presence and influence the tobacco industry lobby has had in state government” [3,10,11]. Oklahoma laws governing clean indoor air and youth access include tobacco industry supported preemptive language. The state law related to clean indoor air includes exemptions for bars, restaurants, outdoor seating areas of restaurants, hotels, in-home child care centers when children are not present, workplaces with incidental public access, and allows for all workplaces to provide smoking rooms in which no work is performed. Public Health 2019, 16, 3378; doi:10.3390/ijerph16183378 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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