title: The motivators and barriers to a smoke-free home among disadvantaged caregivers: identifying the positive levers for change.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to explore home smoking behaviors and the motivators and barriers to smoke-free homes among a group of disadvantaged caregivers for young children and to identify the positive levers that health care professionals can utilize when supporting smoking behavior change.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted between July and September 2009, with 22 disadvantaged smoking caregivers, accessing Children's Centre Services in Nottingham, UK. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were coded and analyzed thematically to identify emergent main and subthemes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers had some general understanding of the dangers of secondhand smoke (SHS), but their knowledge appeared incomplete and confused. All interviewees described rules around smoking in the home; however, these tended to be transient and fluid and unlikely to be effective. Caregivers were often living in difficult and complex circumstances and experienced significant barriers to creating a smoke-free home. The motivators for change were more strongly linked to house decor and smell than children's health, suggesting that visible evidence of the harm done by SHS to children might help promote smoke-free homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that further tailored information on the effect of SHS is required, but to instigate caregiver behavior change, providing demonstrable evidence of the impact that their smoking is having on their children's health is more likely to be effective.
authors: UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. laura.jones@nottingham.ac.uk
authors: Laura L
authors: LL
authors: Jones
authors: Olesya
authors: O
authors: Atkinson
authors: Jo
authors: J
authors: Longman
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Coleman
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: McNeill
authors: Sarah A
authors: SA
authors: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution