Pilot study results from a brief intervention to create smoke-free homes

J Environ Public Health. 2012:2012:951426. doi: 10.1155/2012/951426. Epub 2012 May 17.

Abstract

Very few community-based intervention studies have examined how to effectively increase the adoption of smoke-free homes. A pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term outcomes of a brief, four-component intervention for promoting smoke-free home policies among low-income households. We recruited forty participants (20 smokers and 20 nonsmokers) to receive the intervention at two-week intervals. The design was a pretest-posttest with follow-up at two weeks after intervention. The primary outcome measure was self-reported presence of a total home smoking ban. At follow-up, 78% of participants reported having tried to establish a smoke-free rule in their home, with significantly more nonsmokers attempting a smoke-free home than smokers (P = .03). These attempts led to increased smoking restrictions, that is, going from no ban to a partial or total ban, or from a partial to a total ban, in 43% of the homes. At follow-up, 33% of the participants reported having made their home totally smoke-free. Additionally, smokers reported smoking fewer cigarettes per day. Results suggest that the intervention is promising and warrants a rigorous efficacy trial.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / prevention & control*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Georgia
  • Housing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Self Report
  • Smoking Cessation / methods*
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution