Problem/Objective: Tobacco cessation counseling has primarily addressed individual addiction through behavior modification and nicotine replacement therapy. Environmental triggers have received less attention, but play an important role in quit success. This study examined the association between the adoption of home smoking bans and 30-day abstinence among Quitline registrants

Methods: A cohort of multiple call recipients without home smoking bans was selected from a seven-month follow-up random sample. All registrants lived in Oklahoma and were 18 years or older. Associations were assessed using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) while controlling for caller characteristics, tobacco use patterns, and service utilization.

Results: One-third of the registrants had adopted a complete ban on smoking inside the home by the seven-month follow-up. Those most likely to adopt a home smoking ban were those 18-34 years of age (OR= 1.97, 95% CI1.35-2.88) and those who reported greater than five minutes from the time of waking till the first cigarette (OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.07-2.01). The association between use of pharmacotherapy and 30-day abstinence was statistically significant (OR=1.84, 95% CI 1.26-2.68); however, the association between adoption of a home smoking ban and 30-day abstinence was stronger (OR=4.17, 95% CI 2.97-5.84).

Conclusions: This study found that the adoption of home smoking bans was significantly associated with high quit rates: an association even stronger than the one observed between use of pharmacotherapy and quit rates. Home smoking bans should be promoted as a quit catalyst for tobacco users who are willing to quit.