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Occup Environ Med 66:339-346 doi:10.1136/oem.2008.040311
  • Original article

Bar workers’ health and environmental tobacco smoke exposure (BHETSE): symptomatic improvement in bar staff following smoke-free legislation in Scotland

Table 6 Comparison of non-smokers’ symptom changes in BHETSE compared to other bar workers’ studies
% With symptoms, BHETSE study (n = 57) % With symptoms, All Ireland Bar Study11 (n = 138) % With symptoms, California study (n = 53)†
Baseline Follow-up Baseline Follow-up Baseline Follow-up
Respiratory symptoms
    Median (IQR) number of symptoms 1 (0–2) 0 (0–2) 1 (0–2) 0 (0–2)** NA NA
    Any symptom 54 39 65 49** 74 32**
    Wheezing/whistling 25 21 21 20 32 15**
    Shortness of breath 23 20 16 16 19 8*
    Cough, morning 23 12* 21 15 53 23**
    Cough, rest of day or night 35 23 38 25** 49 11**
    Phlegm production 32 14** 43 29** 53 11**
Sensory symptoms
    Median number of symptoms 2 (0–2) 1 (0–2)* 1 (0–2) 0 (0–1)** NA NA
    Any symptom 74 60 67 45** 77 19**
    Eyes, red or irritated 44 18** 41 14** 42 6**
    Nose, runny or sneezing 54 51 44 35 60 15**
    Throat, sore or scratchy 47 37 33 19** 25 13*

  • *p<0.1, **p<0.05, for follow-up versus baseline.

  • †The study of California bar workers10 includes data from smokers. Follow-up was within 8 weeks of baseline compared to 1 year for the BHETSE study and the All Ireland Bar Study.

  • IQR, interquartile range.

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