Perception of daily cigarette consumption in the office environment

A study was undertaken to investigate how closely smokers and nonsmokers agree in their perception of the number of cigarettes smoked. Information was collected by means of a self-report comfort and environment questionnaire. A secondary objective of the study was to determine whether repeated application of the same questionnaire had any effect on the responses over time. The information obtained from 163 respondents in 49 office work areas shows that nonsmokers perceived the number of cigarettes smoked within their office work areas as significantly lower than either the number perceived or the number reported consumed by smokers. There were no significant differences, however, between smokers’ perceptions of cigarette consumption and their reported consumption. Repeated application of the same questionnaire, or sensitization, had no effect on either the smokers or nonsmokers and their perceived frequency of smoking.