title: Need to establish tobacco smoke zones in public places in Kerala.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Second-hand smoke is a grave hazard to both smokers and nonsmokers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the attitude of general public toward establishing smoke zones in public places.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among people residing in one randomly selected municipality of Kannur district in Kerala state, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1000 individuals participated in the study. An open-ended, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire, which was pilot tested was used to collect information from people willing to participate in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics was used. Statistical analysis was performed by using PASW 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  73.1% of the total participants indicated a positive attitude toward establishing smoke zones in public places. All female participants and 69.7% of male participants had positive attitude toward establishing smoke zones in public places. Most nonsmokers (83.2%) showed a positive attitude toward establishing smoke zones. A statistically significant (P < 0.001) association was observed between smoking habit and attitude toward establishing smoke zones in public places. Among males, a statistically significant (P < 0.001) association was observed between age and attitude toward the need for smoke zones. As age increased, the attitude toward establishing tobacco smoke zone in public places was found to become more positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the participants had positive attitude to prohibition of smoking in public places in order to safe guard the public from the harmful effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muttapppallymyalil
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sreedharan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Divakaran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011633:Public Facilities; D011634:Public Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution