Pre-program Survey Research Articles

A Smoking Cessation Incentive Program for Chemical Employees: Design and Evaluation

Worksite smoking cessation intervention programs have become increasingly popular, although program evaluations are often unavailable. In 1984, the Texas Operations of Dow Chemical USA offered a Smoking Cessation Incentive Program (SCIP) to its employees. SCIP was a highly publicized, upbeat program that had the active support of management and union. Altogether, 7,516 employees (95.4% of all employees) were surveyed about their smoking habits; 28.3% identified themselves as smokers. A total of 1,113 employees voluntarily enrolled in SCIP from March 1, 1984, through March 1, 1985. Smoking cessation methods included a buddy program, nicotine-containing chewing gum, American Lung Association self-help material and group clinics, and incentive prizes. SCIP registrants, compared to employees identified as smokers in a pre-program survey who did not participate in SCIP, were significantly (P less than .01) more often females, whites, administrators, professionals, heavier smokers, and smokers who had tried to quit at least two times prior to SCIP. There were 326 (29.3%) SCIP participants who quit smoking for at least one month during SCIP. A total of 265 (23.8%) succeeded at quitting for at least six months and remained ex-smokers at the end of the program. Logistic regression analysis showed administrators had significantly higher six-month or more rates of quitting than did professionals, craftsmen, operators or clerical workers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The Impact of a Voluntary Educational Program — Tip it Lightly, Alcohol Awareness Week—On the Drinking Attitudes and Behaviors of College Students

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a voluntary educational program — Tip It Lightly, Alcohol Awareness Week — on the drinking attitudes and behaviors of college students. One thousand subjects were randomly selected from a medium-size mid-Western university for the study during the 1979–80 school year. Surveys were mailed to subjects with return envelopes provided. Return rate was 55 per cent for pre-program survey and 45 per cent for the post-program survey. Of those returning the post-program survey, 25 per cent of the students indicated they participated in the voluntary educational program. Chi-square statistics were used to further analyze the percentage differences for the following comparisons: 1) pre-program total population vs. post-program total population, and 2) pre-program total population and post-program participating population. The results of this study revealed that for those subjects who participated in the program, there was a significant improvement in their drinking attitudes and behaviors.