Evaluation of secondhand smoking characteristics in asthmatic children presenting to four emergency departments on O'ahu, Hawai'i.
Exposure to secondhand smoke causes adverse health outcomes particularly in vulnerable groups like children. This multi-centered prospective study examined the household exposure to secondhand smoke among asthmatic children presenting to emergency departments on O'ahu, Hawai'i. Findings revealed that asthmatic children of Samoan, Micronesian, Filipino, Part/Native Hawaiian and Other/Mixed Ancestry had a greater proportion of high exposure to secondhand smoke in the home compared to Japanese, Chinese and Caucasian ethnic groups. Asthmatic children with no insurance or with Medicaid had a greater frequency of high exposure to secondhand smoke in the home than those with private insurance. Additionally, an inverse relationship between caregiver educational level and exposure to secondhand smoke in the home was observed. Recommendations are provided to improve health outcomes and address the disproportionate burden of asthma in such children.
Boychuk
Rodney B
RB
Kapiolani Medical Center For Women and Children, Emergency Department, Honolulu, HI 96826, USA. rodb@kapiolani.org
Halm
Brunhild M
BM
Garcia
Francisco
F
Yamamoto
Franklin Y
FY
Sanderson
Ron R
RR
Gartner
Brenda M
BM
Beckham
Sheila
S
Fannucchi
Rebecca
R
Cadoy
Miguel
M
Day
Craig
C
Pang
Corilyn K S
CK
Chong
Valerie
V
Kaahaaina
Darlene
D
Donavan
Rebecca
R
DeMesa
Charles J
CJ
Kiyabu
Kristi M
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008484:Medicaid; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013224:Status Asthmaticus / Q000209:etiology; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution