The impact of a total ban on smoking in the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
We report the results of a ban on smoking in The Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Baltimore, Md, beginning in July 1987. A survey 6 months before and 6 months after implementation of the ban showed current smoking prevalences to be 15% and 13.8%, respectively. The percentage of smokers who smoked at work declined from 82% before the ban to 43% after the ban. After the ban, 66% of smokers and 93% of nonsmokers agreed that a hospital should be smoke free, while 43% and 83%, respectively, agreed with this statement before the ban. Systematic observations showed a decline from 53% of visitors and staff smoking in public areas 1 month before the ban to 0% smoking 6 months after the ban. Twenty-four-hour cigarette butt counts in elevator lobbies located well within the center dropped from 940 for an average day to 19 for an average day 6 months after the ban. Finally, measurement of environmental nicotine vapor showed a decline from a weekly average concentration of 13 micrograms/m3 of nicotine 1 month prior to the ban to 0.51 micrograms/m3 of nicotine 6 months after the ban in nine lobby lounges. The results suggest that a total ban on smoking in a hospital is feasible and effective in virtually eliminating public smoking.
Becker
D M
DM
Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
Conner
H F
HF
Waranch
H R
HR
Stillman
F
F
Pennington
L
L
Lees
P S
PS
Oski
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D015142:Baltimore; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution