Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/1011

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Title

Blowing smoke: strategies smokers use to protect non-smokers from environmental tobacco smoke in the home

Author(s)

Hill, Lola;  Farquharson, Karen;  Borland, Ron

Abstract

Issue addressed: Research has suggested that many smokers wish to protect the non-smokers they live with, particularly children, from exposure to their tobacco smoke. This study investigates the strategies smokers use to protect non-smokers from exposure to tobacco smoke in their homes, how effective they perceive these strategies to be, and what they perceive as obstacles to making their homes smoke-free. Methods: Audio-taped, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Australian apartment dwelling smokers. We focused on smokers who live in apartments because the structural barriers they face in order to become smoke-free appear higher than those who live in houses. Apartments are also more likely to house socially disadvantaged people, people who research has shown are less likely to have smoke- free homes than the socially advantaged. Conclusions: Participants use two main strategies (opening windows, or smoking in a separate room). Other than factors such as lack of private outdoor space and nicotine dependence, participants reported that psychosocial factors, such as preferring to smoke in comfort and wanting to honour preferences of family and friends to smoke indoors, hinder their attainment of smoke- free homes.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Source

Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Vol. 14, no. 3 (Dec. 2003), pp. 196-201

Publication year

2003

Keyword(s)

Environmental tobacco smoke;  Smoke-free homes;  Smokers' attitudes

Publisher

Australian Health Promotion Association

ISSN

1036-1073

Publisher URL

http://www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal/previous/2003_3/journal.php

Copyright

Copyright © 2003 Australian Health Promotion Association. Published version of this paper reproduced with the kind permission of the publisher.

Full text

Peer reviewed