Thursday, October 25, 2007
Exhibit Hall
Trends in home exposure to secondhand smoke in Wisconsin.
Kathryn G. Anderson, MS, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Program on Surveillance and Evaluation, kganderson@wisc.edu,
David M. Ahrens, MS, University of Wisconsin Paul Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, Surveillance and Evaluation Program, ahrens@uwccc.wisc.edu.
Learning Objectives: Descibe trends in home exposure, barriers to change and methods of reducing exposure
Problem/Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of home smoking by smokers/non-smokers and children and no children present at home. We determined the changes in trends in Wisconsin over the past fifteen years by these sub-populations and assessed the potential of various interventions to reduce exposure. Methods: Analysis of state (Wisconsin Tobacco Survey) and national survey data (CPS). Results: Almost all non-smoking respondents with children reported policies for non-smoking in their homes. They also report no-smoking. More than half of smokers still regularly smoke at home with little differentiation in behavior as a result of children in the home. We also found a significant percent of smokers who report a “policy” of non-smoking but regularly smoke. We calculate that approximately 250,000 school age children in Wisconsin are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. However, there appears to be on-going progress in reducing exposure of children. Conclusions: Significant progress has been made among non-smokers and to a lesser extent among smokers in de-normalizing smoking in the home. Programs to reduce home smoking must be closely targeted to parent-smokers. This can be accomplished through educating and supporting pediatricians who treat children for effects of exposure as well as marketing new social and behavioral norms.