Effect of media campaigns and smoke-free ordinance on public awareness and secondhand smoke exposure in Taiwan.
This study evaluated the effect of Taiwan's smoke-free ordinance and media campaigns on public awareness and secondhand smoke exposure. The authors conducted 3 waves of research--in July 2008 (before media campaigns), in December 2008 (during media campaigns), and in March 2009 (3 months after implementation of the smoke-free law). National representative samples of 1074, 1084, and 1094 people, respectively, were interviewed successfully by telephone in the 3 surveys. The results showed that general awareness of smoke-free workplace legislation rose dramatically from 28.5% in July 2008 to 87.6% in December 2008 to 93.6% in March 2009. Exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace fell from 28.5% in July 2008 to 24.9% in December 2008 to 7.3% in March 2009, and household secondhand smoke exposure decreased from 36.8% to 34.3% to 21.3%, respectively, during the same period. Multivariate analyses results indicated that media campaigns, smoke-free ordinance implementation, having higher education, and having higher income were associated with more awareness of the smoke-free workplace legislation. In addition, smoke-free ordinance implementation, being female, having higher education, and having higher income were associated with less likelihood of reporting secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace. In conclusion, smoke-free ordinance implementation and media campaigns were effective in raising public awareness of the new law and reducing secondhand smoke exposure in workplaces, in public places, and at home.
National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. fongchingchang@ntnu.edu.tw
Fong-Ching
FC
Chang
Chi-Hui
CH
Chung
Yi-Chia
YC
Chuang
Teh-Wei
TW
Hu
Po-Tswen
PT
Yu
Kun-Yu
KY
Chao
Mei-Ling
ML
Hsiao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006798:Housing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013624:Taiwan; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055815:Young Adult
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution