Abstract:
The invention relates to a smoking policy audit system and method for a plurality of users. A computer system is generally operable to service user requests and provide users with information responsive to the user requests. The computer system is coupled to a smoking policy audit database. The database is operable to a store plurality of questions associated with a smoking policy audit, smoking policy recommendations and smoking policy comments. The computer system is operable to present the user with a question from the smoking policy audit database and receive an answer from the user in response to the question. The computer system is also operable to generate at least one report including the smoking policy recommendations and smoking policy comments that correlate with the user&#39;s answers.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/336,388, filed Oct. 25, 2001. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of computerized audit systems and more particularly to a worksite smoking policy audit system. The invention generally includes an on-line questionnaire that is completed by the employer in light of their existing smoking policy for one or more worksites. The audit system then generates a report (including a series of tailored responses) based on the supplied answers. The report enables the employer to make improvements to their worksite smoking policy or if they have no smoking policy provides guidance in how to set one up from scratch.  
           [0003]    The worksite smoking policy audit system includes a user interface for providing user access to a smoking policy audit database. In one embodiment, the company representative or user logs onto the system via a typical Internet Web Browser and is presented with a plurality of web pages. The system preferably queries the user whether they are a new user or an existing user. New users are preferably required to register with the system (e.g., provide contact infromation, select user name and password and the like). Existing users log into the system using a previously selected username and password.  
           [0004]    The user is then presented a web based questionnaire that assesses the company&#39;s existing no-smoking policy. The questionnaire is preferably divided into 5 sections, which the user completes sequentially. The system takes the user&#39;s answers or responses and correlates these with various information in the smoking policy audit database. Once the user completes a section, the system is operable to generate a report with various recommendations and comments on an existing or proposed smoking policy. The system preferably provides background information on each section or a list of the questions upon user request.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The invention is directed to a smoking policy audit system and method for a plurality of users. The system includes a computer system operable to service user requests and provide users with information responsive to the user requests. A smoking policy audit database is coupled to the computer system. The database is operable to a store plurality of questions associated with a smoking policy audit. The database also stores smoking policy recommendations and smoking policy comments. The system is preferably operable to present the user with a question from the smoking policy audit database and receive an answer from the user in response to the question. The term “present” is used herein in its broadest sense and encompasses the transmission of data for actual display by another device—such as a web browser.  
           [0006]    The system is also preferably operable to correlate the user&#39;s answer to at least one question with at least one smoking policy recommendation and smoking policy comment stored in the smoking policy audit database. Optionally, the system is operable to correlate a user&#39;s answer to a plurality of questions with at least one smoking policy recommendation and smoking policy comment stored in the smoking policy audit database.  
           [0007]    The plurality of questions (e.g., questionnaire) can optionally be divided into a plurality of sections. In one embodiments, the plurality of questions are divided into five sections directed to background information, existing smoking policies, employee involvement, canvassing opinion and support and smoking cessation.  
           [0008]    The computer system is preferably operable to generate at least one report including at least one smoking policy recommendation and smoking policy comment that correlate with the user&#39;s answer to at least one question. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a general block diagram of a system in accordance with the invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary login page in accordance with the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 shows an exemplary user registration page in accordance with the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary summary page in accordance with the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary question page is accordance with the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 shows an updated summary page in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 shows a portion of an exemplary report in accordance with the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The invention provides an automated worksite smoking policy audit system that provides information and advice via an on-line audit system. Users are generally provided with recommendations on how to implement and/or improve a smoking policy and introduce training around smoking cessation.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 shows a general block diagram of a system in accordance with the invention. The worksite smoking policy audit system includes a user interface for providing user access to a smoking policy audit database. The term “database” generally refers to a collection of information stored for later retrieval. The term “database” is used herein in its broadest sense (i.e., a collection of information) and is not limited to any particular structure or implementation.  
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the company logs onto the program via a typical Internet Web Browser  10  and is presented with a plurality of web pages. The user accesses the system via a network processing device and web browser (e.g., PC, PDA and the like). The user is then presented with a login screen, which prompts for a user name and password. The system includes at least one server  20  (e.g., WWW server) operable to receive data from a user and provide data or content in response to user input. The system also includes a smoking policy audit database  22  as described in more detail below. Data communications paths between the user PC and Web Browser  10  and the server  20  are shown generally by arrows  30 . It is understood that data communications via the Internet often traverse a series of intermediate network nodes prior to reaching the desired destination (e.g., the user PC and Web Browser or the content provider Web site). Arrows  30  do not suggest a direct physical connection between the user PC and Web Browser  10  and/or various servers and encompass typical Internet communications (a connectionless, best-efforts packet-based system). It is also understood that a variety of data networks using various network protocols are suitable for use in accordance with the invention.  
         [0019]    The user PC and Web Browser  10  is operable to accesses the Internet World Wide Web (WWW or Web). The user PC is preferably has an associated operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Linux and includes a typical Web Browser such as Netscape Communicator (for Windows or Linux) or Microsoft Internet Explorer, as well as numerous others. The Web Browser assists the user in requesting and displaying Web pages or sites containing desired information. The hardware and software configuration of a user network processing device for Internet access is routine and generally known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0020]    The server  20  preferably includes an HTTP server for use in connection with an Internet Web site. There are many varieties of commercially or publicly available Web server software packages that are compatible with the invention, all of which can be implemented with commonly available hardware. The implementation of a suitable server and database system for use in connection with the invention, in accordance with the disclosure herein, is well within the grasp of those skilled in the art.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary login page in accordance with the invention. The system preferably queries the user whether they are a new user or an existing user. For existing users, the system receives the user name and password and compares them to previously stored values. Assuming the user name and password are valid, the user is permitted to access the system. If the user has forgotten their password, the system preferably provides a mechanism for granting access to the system (e.g., a security question must be answered correctly before access is granted).  
         [0022]    New users are preferably required to register with the system (e.g., provide contact infromation, select user name and password and the like). FIG. 3 shows an exemplary user registration page in accordance with the invention. It is understood that user related information can be encrypted or otherwise protected to prevent unauthorized individuals from capturing any sensitive information. The implementation and administration of a user registration system is well known in the art.  
         [0023]    After logging in, the user is then preferably presented with a summary screen identifying the user (e.g., John Smith), that status of the various sections that they have completed and the like. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary summary page in accordance with the invention. The user can then proceed with the individual sections of the questionnaire and assess the company&#39;s no-smoking policy.  
         [0024]    The questionnaire is preferably divided into 5 sections, which the user completes sequentially. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary question page is accordance with the invention. In general, the user is presented with a question and two or more potential answers or responses, each potential response is associated with a check box. The user selects the appropriate response by clicking on the appropriate check box and then clicks on accept. The system at least temporarily records the user&#39;s response and then presents the user with the next question in the section. Once the section is complete, the user is preferably presented with an updated summary page showing that the section has been completed.  
         [0025]    The user is then preferably presented with an option to review the report for the completed section. The report is automatically generated with various comments and recommendations based on the users responses. The logic used to correlate particular user responses with information in the database is discussed in more detail below. The user can view the report by clicking on the “View report” link. Optionally, the user can view background information on each section or the actual audit questions by clicking on “View background information” or “View questions” links respectively. See FIG. 4.  
         [0026]    Audit Section 1—Background Information  
         [0027]    As discussed above, the audit questionnaire is preferably broken down into a plurality of sections (e.g., 5 sections). An exemplary audit section 1 is discussed below. In this example, audit section 1 requests background information from the user. A complete listing of audit questions appears in Appendix A. The comments and recommendations contained in the smoking policy audit database for this section are shown in Appendix B. For matters of completeness, these questions are also discussed in more detail below. Section 1 includes questions tailored to identify the size and type of business at issue.  
         [0028]    Each of the questions in audit section 1 are associated with two or more potential answers or responses. When presented with the question in section 1, the user selects a single answer as their response. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary question page is accordance with the invention. In the example, question 1 is as follows:  
         [0029]    1. Are you completing this audit on behalf of a single site or several sites? 
         [0030]    a) Single site  
         [0031]    b) Several sites  
         [0032]    The user selects the appropriate selects the appropriate response by clicking on the appropriate check box and then clicks on accept. The system at least temporarily records the user&#39;s response and ultimately correlates the response with information in the smoking policy audit database. Table 1 below shows exemplary smoking policy audit database content that is associated with the each potential user response. Selection of response “a” correlates to the first row in the table and a score of 1. Selection of response “b” correlates to the second row in the table and a score of 2, etc. etc. The system is optionally operable to tabulate all of the scores for each question in each section and associate and calculate an overall score for the individual section and/or the entire audit.  
                           TABLE 1                       Q   Score   Comment   Recommendations                   1   1   As your organization is based on   Seek to inform and involve               a single site you should find   employees about the               addressing the issue of tobacco   activities that are being               in the workplace to be   developed to address the               straightforward. However the   issue of smoking at work               issue can be contentious and the   whenever possible.               views and perceptions of the               employees will need to be taken               into account. For the process to               be successful it is important to               provide employees with good               quality information about the               measures being adopted and               provide them with the               opportunity to respond with               comments, suggestions and               questions.           2   Addressing the issue of smoking   Seek to inform and involve               at work is a positive and   employees about the               constructive thing to do. It can   activities that are being               also be a straightforward process   developed to address the               to implement. The way in which   issue of smoking tobacco               the process is established is   in the workplace whenever               important and has a significant   possible and pay particular               impact on the long-term   attention to the issue of               sustainability of the approach   communication within and               being adopted. Of particular   between sites. You may               importance is the need to   find it helpful to establish               involve employees in the process   an organization wide               at an early stage, and then   steering group to give               maintain their involvement. As   direction to the process and               an organization which is based   to supplement this with               on more than one site you   working groups on each               should try to ensure that   site.               employees in all the sites are               provided with good quality               information about the measures               being adopted and are also given               the opportunity to respond with               comments, suggestions and               questions.                  
 
         [0033]    Continuing with this example, question 2 is as follows:  
         [0034]    2. How many employees are currently working for your organization?  
         [0035]    a) &lt;100  
         [0036]    b) 100- 249  
         [0037]    c) 249- 499  
         [0038]    d) &gt;500  
         [0039]    Again, the user selects the appropriate selects the appropriate response by clicking on the appropriate check box and then clicks on accept. The system at least temporarily records the users response and ultimately correlates the response with information in the smoking policy audit database. Table 2 below shows exemplary smoking policy audit database content that is associated with the possible user responses for this question.  
                           TABLE 2                       Q   Score   Comment   Recommendations                   2   1   Your organization has the opportunity   Complete the               to tackle tobacco in the workplace in a   remainder of this               constructive and positive manner. With   audit, ideally               fewer than 100 employees, most, if not   involving one or               all of them are likely to know each   two of your key               other by name, and smoking behavior   colleagues such as               will probably be well known. Smoking   the health and safety               in the workplace is an issue that can   representative and               arouse strong feelings, and it needs to   an employee               be addressed in a sensitive way.   representative.               Completing this audit will provide you               with guidance on the response that your               organization might wish to take to               address tobacco use in the workplace.               Addressing the issue of smoking               should not be viewed as yet another               burden. By acting now, you will be               establishing good practice, enhancing               the working conditions of your               employees and improving the               productivity of your organization.           2   Your organization has the opportunity   Complete the               to tackle tobacco in the workplace in a   remainder of this               constructive and positive manner. With   audit, ideally with               fewer than 250 employees, most, if not   colleagues from the               all of them will know each other by   occupational health               name, and smoking behavior will   department or               probably be well known. However,   occupational health               smoking in the workplace is an issue   provider, the               that can arouse strong feelings and   human resources               needs to be addressed in a sensitive   department, a               way. Completing this audit will provide   health and safety               you with guidance on the nature and   representative and               types of response that your   an employee               organization might wish to take to   representative.               address tobacco use in the workplace.               Addressing the issue of smoking               should not be viewed as yet another               burden. By acting now, you will be               establishing good practice, enhancing               the working conditions of your               employees and improving the               productivity of your organization.           3   Your organization has the opportunity   Complete the               to tackle tobacco in the workplace in a   remainder of this               constructive and positive manner. Your   audit, ideally with               organization is relatively large, and will   colleagues from the               almost certainly have a well-defined   occupational health               HR function, health and safety   department or               representatives, some form of   occupational health               occupational health service, and   provider, the               mechanisms to consult with staff.   human resources               Smoking in the workplace is an issue   department, a               that can arouse strong feelings and   health and safety               needs to be addressed in a sensitive   representative and               manner. Your organization should seek   an employee               to create a small team (probably drawn   representative.               from the groups listed above) to take               the issue forward. Completing this               audit will provide you with guidance               on the nature and types of response that               your organization might wish to take to               address tobacco use in the workplace.               Addressing the issue of smoking               should not be viewed as yet another               burden. By acting now, you will be               establishing good practice, enhancing               the working conditions of your               employees and improving the               productivity of your organization.           4   Your organization has the opportunity   Complete the               to tackle tobacco in the workplace in a   remainder of this               constructive and positive manner. As a   audit, ideally with               large company, your organization will   colleagues from the               almost certainly have a well-defined   occupational health               HR function, health and safety   department or               representatives, some form of   occupational health               occupational health service, and   provider, the               mechanisms to consult with staff.   human resources               Smoking in the workplace is an issue   department, a               that can arouse strong feelings and   health and safety               which needs to be addressed in a   representative and               sensitive manner. Your organization   an employee               should seek to create a small team   representative.               (probably drawn from the groups listed               above) to take the issue forward.               Completing this audit will provide you               with guidance on the response that your               organization might wish to take to               address tobacco use in the workplace.               Addressing the issue of smoking               should not be viewed as yet another               burden. By acting now, you will be               establishing good practice, enhancing               the working conditions of your               employees and improving the               productivity of your organization.                  
 
         [0040]    Continuing with this example, question 3 is as follows:  
         [0041]    3. Which business sector best describes your organization? 
         [0042]    a) Public  
         [0043]    b) Private  
         [0044]    c) Voluntary organization  
         [0045]    d) Non-governmental organization (NGO)  
         [0046]    Again, the user selects the appropriate selects the appropriate response by clicking on the appropriate check box and then clicks on accept. The system at least temporarily records the users response and ultimately correlates the response with information in the smoking policy audit database. Table 3 below shows exemplary smoking policy audit database content that is associated with the possible user responses for this question.  
                           TABLE 3                       Q   Score   Comment   Recommendations                   3   1   It is important that all organizations   Use the completion               address the issue of smoking at work.   of this audit as an               As a public sector organization you   opportunity to               have the opportunity to act as a model   review your               for other organizations in your area, and   organization&#39;s               your contact with the general public   attitude towards               means that the scope of the measured   smoking at work,               you introduce could have a far-reaching   existing measures to               effect.   control it and also as               Experience indicates that passive   a tool to help you               smoking should be incorporated into   review and refine               any workplace risk assessments that you   these measures and               may undertake and that measures to   where appropriate               control all risks to the health and   plan new               well-being of employees should be put   approaches.               in place.               Being seen to care for the health and               well-being of employees is widely               recognized as a sign of a good employer               and this helps with both the recruitment               and the retention of staff. Therefore               acting positively but sensitively on the               issue of smoking in the workplace will               send a positive message to your               employees and the wider community.           2   It is important that all organizations   Use the completion               address the issue of smoking at work.   of this audit as               As an organization involved in   an opportunity               manufacturing you will be only too well   to review your               aware of the need to provide a safe   organization&#39;s               working environment for your   attitude towards               employees. Experience indicates that   smoking at work,               tobacco smoke should be incorporated   existing measures to               into any workplace risk assessments that   control it and also               you may undertake and that measures to   as a tool to help you               control all risks to the health and   review and refine               well-being of employees should be put   these measures and               in place.   where appropriate               Being seen to care for the health and   plan new               well-being of employees is widely   approaches.               recognized as a sign of a good employer               and this helps with both the recruitment               and retention of staff. Therefore acting               positively but sensitively on the issue of               smoking in the workplace will send a               strong message to your employees and               the wider community.           3   It is important that all organizations   Use the completion               address the issue of smoking at work.   of this audit as               As a service based organization you will   an opportunity               be only too well-aware of the need to   to review your               provide a safe working environment for   organization&#39;s               your employees. Experience indicates   attitude towards               that tobacco smoke should be   smoking at work,               incorporated into any workplace risk   existing measures to               assessments that you may undertake and   control it and also               that measures to control all risks to   as a tool to help you               the health and well-being of employees   review and refine               should be put in place.   these measures and               Being seen to care for the health and   where appropriate               well-being of employees is widely   plan new               recognized as a sign of a good employer   approaches.               and this helps with both the recruitment               and retention of staff. Therefore acting               positively but sensitively on the issue               of smoking in the workplace will send a               strong message to your employees and               the wider community.           4   As a voluntary sector organization you   Use the completion               will be addressing very real needs,   of this audit as               often in challenging and difficult   an opportunity               circumstances. Your employees will be   to review your               a key resource for both the organization   organization&#39;s               and the needs it addresses. Protecting   attitude towards               your employees health and well-being is   smoking at work,               clearly a key task for the organization.   existing measures to               It is important that the issue of   control it and also               smoking at work is addressed by all   as a tool to help you               organizations for being seen to care for   review and refine               the health and well-being of employees   these measures and               is widely recognized as a sign of a good   where appropriate               employer and this helps with both the   plan new               recruitment and retention of staff.   approaches.               Therefore acting positively but               sensitively on the issue of smoking in               the workplace will send a strong               message to your employees and to the               wider community           5   As an NGO your organization will have   Use the completion               many demands placed upon it. Your   of this audit as an               employees are your key resource and   opportunity to               protecting their health and well-being is   review your               clearly a key task for the organization.   organization&#39;s               It is important that all organizations   attitude towards               address the issue of smoking at work.   smoking at work,               Being seen to care for the health and   existing measures               well-being of employees is widely   to control it and               recognized as a sign of a good employer   also as a tool to               and this helps with both the recruitment   help you review               and retention of staff. Therefore acting   and refine these               positively but sensitively on the issue   measures and where               of smoking in the workplace will send a   appropriate plan               strong message to your employees and   new approaches.               to the wider community.                  
 
         [0047]    In this example, audit section 1 contains three questions. Upon submission of a response to the last question in the section, the user is preferably presented with an updated summary page. FIG. 6 shows an updated summary page in accordance with the invention. The user is then presented with the option of viewing the report. As discussed above, the report is compiled using a portion of the information contained in the smoking policy audit database. The particular information in the report is selected based on the user responses that are received by the system. FIG. 7 shows a portion of an exemplary report in accordance with the invention. As discussed above, the report contains a portion of information or data from the smoking policy audit database. The data is selected based on the user&#39;s responses to the audit questions contained in the section at issue.  
         [0048]    Audit Section 2—The Smoking Policy  
         [0049]    An exemplary audit section 2 is discussed below. In this example, audit section 2 requests information relating to any existing smoking policies. A complete listing of audit questions appears in Appendix A. The comments and recommendations contained in the smoking policy audit database for this section are shown in Appendix C.  
         [0050]    As discussed in the previous section, the user selects the appropriate response for each audit question by clicking on the appropriate check box and then clicks on accept. The system at least temporarily records the user&#39;s responses and ultimately correlates the responses with information in the smoking policy audit database. Upon submission of a response to the last question in the section, the user is preferably presented with an updated summary page. The user is then presented with the option of viewing the report. As discussed above, the report is compiled using a portion of the data or information contained in the smoking policy audit database. The particular information in the report is selected based on the user responses that are received by the system as detailed in Appendix C.  
         [0051]    Audit Section 3—Employee Involvement  
         [0052]    An exemplary audit section 3 is discussed below. In this example, audit section 3 requests information relating to the level of employee involvement. A complete listing of audit questions appears in Appendix A. The comments and recommendations contained in the smoking policy audit database for this section are shown in Appendix D.  
         [0053]    Some of the questions in section 3 allow the user to select multiple responses by clicking on one or more check boxes and then clicking on accept. The system at least temporarily records the user&#39;s responses and ultimately correlates the responses with information in the smoking policy audit database. Upon submission of a response to the last question in the section, the user is preferably presented with an updated summary page. The user is then presented with the option of viewing the report. As discussed above, the report is compiled using a portion of the information contained in the smoking policy audit database. The particular information in the report is selected based on the user responses that are received by the system as detailed in Appendix D.  
         [0054]    Audit Section 4—Canvassing Opinion and Support  
         [0055]    An exemplary audit section 4 is discussed below. In this example, audit section 4 requests information relating to canvassing opinion and support. A complete listing of audit questions appears in Appendix A. The comments and recommendations contained in the smoking policy audit database for this section are shown in Appendix E.  
         [0056]    The relationship between the user&#39;s responses and the associated comments and recommendation are more complex for this section. For example, the question pool for section 4 is preferably sub-divided into a plurality of groups. Within each group, the logic is varied in order to determine which comments and recommendation are included in the report. Some of the questions may allow the selection of two or more answers. The answers to two or more questions within a group can also be utilized to determine which comments and recommendation are ultimately included in the report.  
         [0057]    The system at least temporarily records the user&#39;s response and ultimately correlates the response with information in the smoking policy audit database. Upon submission of a response to the last question in the section, the user is preferably presented with an updated summary page. The user is then presented with the option of viewing the report. As discussed above, the report is compiled using a portion of the information or data contained in the smoking policy audit database. The particular information in the report is selected based on the user responses that are received by the system as detailed in Appendix E.  
         [0058]    Audit Section 5—Smoking Cessation  
         [0059]    An exemplary audit section 4 is discussed below. In this example, audit section 4 requests information relating to smoking cessation. A complete listing of audit questions appears in Appendix A. The comments and recommendations contained in the smoking policy audit database for this section are shown in Appendix E.  
         [0060]    The relationship between the user&#39;s responses and the associated comments and recommendation are straight forward in this section. The system at least temporarily records the user&#39;s response and ultimately correlates the response with information in the smoking policy audit database. Upon submission of a response to the last question in the section, the user is preferably presented with an updated summary page. The user is then presented with the option of viewing the report. As discussed above, the report is compiled using a portion of the data or information contained in the smoking policy audit database. The particular information in the report is selected based on the user responses that are received by the system as detailed in Appendix F.  
         [0061]    While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations in the preferred devices and methods may be used and that it is intended that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.