Predictors of support for environmental tobacco smoke bans in state government.
BACKGROUND
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major threat to public health, associated with a number of serious diseases, and a leading cause of death. Previous research demonstrates that enactment of government policies mandating clean indoor air is effective in creating more smoke-free public places and decreasing the incidence of smoking. Both researchers and community activists have an interest in understanding the factors that predict support for the regulation of ETS.


METHODS
This study examined predictors of support for regulating ETS by surveying 684 city and county public officials in Colorado who were interviewed by phone and mail (response rate 61%).


RESULTS
Thirty-five percent of public officials reported that it is a "serious" or "very serious" problem that nonsmokers breathe in other people's cigarette smoke, 21% were "neutral," and 42% said that it was "not serious" or "not serious at all." Results indicated that support for policies to control ETS and promote clean indoor air is significantly more prevalent among public officials who: (1) believe that tobacco use is a serious problem in their community, (2) believe that breathing environmental tobacco smoke is a serious problem for nonsmokers, (3) believe that city and county government should get involved with people's decisions about smoking, (4) support smoking-cessation programs for public employees, and (5) have smoked less than 100 cigarettes during their lifetime.


CONCLUSIONS
Both the harms of ETS and legislation to create smoke-free environments remain controversial among local officials. Smoke-free advocates should support officials who believe that ETS is a problem and persuade officials on the harms of ETS and the need for government intervention.
Andersen
Peter A
PA
School of Communication, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-4561, USA. peterand@mail.sdsu.edu
Buller
David B
DB
Voeks
Jenifer H
JH
Borland
Ron
R
Helme
Donald
D
Bettinghaus
Erwin P
EP
Young
Walter F
WF
D001290:Attitude; D003120:Colorado; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D013219:State Government; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution