title: Second-hand smoke exposure and mitigation strategies among home visitation workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Protection of workers from second-hand smoke (SHS) in occupational settings is an important policy priority, yet little attention has been given to SHS protection for home visitation health workers, who number almost 2 million in the USA. Self-reported SHS exposure, SHS mitigation strategies and suggestions for further SHS exposure reduction approaches were obtained from home visitation health workers in Massachusetts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Massachusetts Early Intervention workers (N=316) at their state-wide conference in April 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three per cent of respondents reported at least 1 hour per month of SHS exposure, and 16% reported at least 11 hours per month. Nevertheless, only 22% of workers counselled clients on maintaining a smoke-free home. Fewer than 30% of workers had ever voiced concerns to their employing agency, and just 12% had raised their concerns directly with clients. Only 14% stated that their agency had rules designed to protect workers from SHS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SHS exposure occurs frequently among home visitation health workers. The data point to a substantial population who are not protected from SHS exposure by formal policies.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Robyn R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Keske
authors.forename: Vaughan W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Behm
authors.forename: Brianna M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wadler
authors.forename: Alan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Geller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006282:Health Personnel; D006792:House Calls; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations; D012907:Smoking; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution