More than 50 per cent of BPO workers smoke: Study

MUMBAI: More than 50 per cent of the BPO workers smoke and are not aware of the ill-effects of smoking despite being educated, says a study being carried out by the Tata Memorial Hospital here.

Work for the two-year study which began in August last year is being carried out in four BPOs in Mumbai, Dr Gauravi Mishra, Consultant, Preventive Oncology division of TMH, said adding although the BPOs themselves are smoke-free but the staff come out of the office for smoking.

Cigarette is the most common form of smoking but the staff also go to the Hookah bars to "ventilate" their stress without realising the fact that hundreds of diseases are caused by tobacco, she said.

Cigarette smoking is more prevalent among men than women staff but women prefer to go to hookah bars, the doctor said.

The sample survey includes 800 to 1000 people under the age group between 22 and 23 yrs.

With consistent counselling and educating on the harmful effects of smoking on them and their future generation, the smoking behaviour could be changed, Mishra told media here.