Table 3

Comparison of pre- and post-legislation attitudes in those followed up: for each question, percentages giving each response. N is the number of people analysed.


Question
N
Period
Response* (%)
Mean Shift
U-1** p-value




1
2
3
4
5



A
The ban on smoking will have (has had) a negative effect on business for public bars
265
Pre
15.8
34.7
32.8
15.5
1.1
1.00
<0.001



Post
4.5
14.7
22.2
41.9
16.6


B
The smoking ban is an unfair restriction on smokers
263
Pre
12.2
16.3
16.3
35.0
20.2
0.24
0.018



Post
6.5
14.4
17.1
38.4
23.6


C
Fewer people will (now) visit public bars after (because of) the ban on smoking
264
Pre
10.6
31.4
27.7
25.8
4.5
0.78
<0.001



Post
4.9
9.8
21.6
47.0
16.7


D
The smoking ban will make (has made) smokers smoke more at home
265
Pre
14.0
32.8
31.3
19.6
2.3
0.32
<0.001



Post
7.5
18.0
48.3
23.8
2.3


E
The smoking ban will result (has resulted) in jobs being lost
265
Pre
8.3
17.7
34.7
35.1
4.2
0.55
<0.001



Post
2.6
4.2
32.8
47.5
12.8







Response* (%)






5
4
3
2
1



F
Smoke free public bars will make (have made) visits to them more comfortable
265
Pre
1.5
9.4
15.1
30.2
43.8
0.20
0.018



Post
1.1
6.0
11.3
29.8
51.7


G
The smoking ban will encourage (has encouraged) smokers to quit
265
Pre
0.8
7.9
21.9
51.3
18.1
-0.28
<0.001



Post
3.0
11.7
26.4
49.8
9.1


H
The smoking ban is (was) needed to protect the health of workers
265
Pre
0.4
9.1
12.8
39.6
38.1
0.03
0.972



Post
1.9
6.4
10.6
42.6
38.5


I
Do you agree with the proposed ban on smoking in public bars?
263
Pre
9.9
12.5
9.9
27.0
40.7
0.32
0.017



Post
5.3
6.5
9.9
31.9
46.4



* Response: 1-Strongly Agree, 2-Agree, 3-Undecided, 4-Disagree, 5-Strongly Disagree

** Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U-test of equal medians. Tests the overall change in attitude for each question.

Hilton et al. BMC Public Health 2007 7:206   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-206