Attitudes of Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents about tobacco smoke in restaurants and bars.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the attitudes of Olmsted County, Minnesota, adults about environmental tobacco smoke in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this population survey,2014 adults were contacted by random digit dial methods between February 28 and May 5, 2000, and asked to participate in a telephone survey; 1224 (61%) consented. RESULTS: For the 57% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54%-60%) of the study population that reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, the most frequently reported sites of exposure were restaurants (44% [95% CI, 41%-48%]), work (21% [95% CI, 18%-24%]), and bars (19% [95% CI, 16%-22%]). Seventy-two percent (95% CI, 69%-74%) of respondents said that they would select a smoke-free restaurant over one where smoking is permitted, and 70% (95% CI, 67%-72%) said that they would select a smoke-free bar over one where smoking is permitted. The majority of respondents said that they would not dine out or visit bars or nightclubs more often or less often if all restaurants, bars, and nightclubs were smoke-free. CONCLUSIONS: Olmsted County residents prefer smoke-free restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

The CardioVision 2020 baseline community report card.

OBJECTIVE: To establish baseline data for the CardioVision 2020 program, a collaborative project in Olmsted County, Minnesota, organized to reduce cardiovascular disease rates by altering 5 health-related items: (1) eliminating tobacco use and exposure, (2) improving nutrition, (3) increasing physical activity, (4) lowering serum cholesterol level, and (5) controlling blood pressure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data about tobacco use, diet, and physical activity were collected by random digit dial interview and follow-up questionnaire from a sample of the population. Blood pressure data were collected from medical records at Mayo Clinic, and serum cholesterol data were derived from the Mayo Clinic laboratory database. Data were stratified into 6 age groups. RESULTS: A total of 624 women and 608 men responded to the questionnaire. Population blood pressure data were available for 1,956 women and 1,084 men. Population serum cholesterol data were available for 17,042 women and 12,511 men. Except for women in the 30- to 39-year-old age group, less than 10% of the population sampled met 4 or 5 goals. Conversely, about 90% of the population met at least 1 goal, and about 80% met 1, 2, or 3 of the goals. CONCLUSION: The data from the Olmsted County population indicate considerable opportunity to reduce this population's burden of cardiovascular disease.