Setting a Good Example? Changes in Smoking Prevalence Among Key Occupational Groups in New Zealand: Evidence From the 1981 and 2006 Censuses

Role modeling by smokers may influence smoking among children and young adults. Most work on smoking by occupation has focused on health workers. A unique opportunity to explore smoking by occupation is presented in New Zealand (NZ) due to inclusion of a smoking status question in most national censuses since 1976. Our aim was to assess trends in smoking prevalence among potential role model occupational groups in NZ. Adult smoking status by occupation was obtained from the 1981 census (N = 1,321,323) and 2006 census (N = 1,744,479). Subjects were aggregated into 5 broad groups of potential role-model occupations: teachers, uniformed services, health-related occupations, public figures, and sportspeople/entertainers. Age and sex-standardized current smoking prevalences were calculated using the 2006 NZ employed population as the reference standard. Standardized smoking prevalence among the employed population was 34.5% in 1981 and had declined 37% in relative terms and 12.8% in absolute terms to 21.7% in 2006. Relative declines in smoking prevalence between 1981 and 2006 ranged from 35% to 60% among the role model occupational groups and absolute declines from 8.3% to 19.9%. M (a) over bar ori had higher smoking prevalence and lower relative declines in prevalence in each occupational group from 1981 to 2006, compared with non-M (a) over bar ori. Specific occupations mostly had low smoking prevalences-particularly doctors and teachers. But some role model occupations had high crude smoking prevalences in 2006 (up to 47%). Persisting high smoking prevalence among some occupational groups suggest that additional targeted smoking cessation support for role model occupational groups may be justified.