title: Political climate and smoke-free laws in rural Kentucky communities.
abstract: The purpose was to determine factors associated with rural communities' political readiness to enact smoke-free laws. Data from baseline assessment of a longitudinal intervention study to promote smoke-free policy in rural Kentucky communities; key informants (n = 144) and elected officials (n = 83) from 29 counties participated in cross-sectional telephone interviews. Controlling for population size and county-level smoking rate, the following factors predicted elected officials' perception of the likelihood of a local smoke-free law passing in the next 12 months: (1) support from the local board of health; (2) support from local leaders; and (3) smoke-free hospitals. Communities with lower adult smoking prevalence were more ready for smoke-free laws. Rural health advocates can increase political readiness for smoke-free laws by educating and engaging Board of Health members and local leaders, promoting the voluntary adoption of smoke-free policies in rural hospitals, and investing in effective population-based approaches to evidence-based tobacco treatment in rural communities.
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky College of Nursing, Lexington, KY 40526, USA. mkrayens@uky.edu
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Rayens
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: York
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Ellen J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011050:Policy Making; D011057:Politics; D011640:Public Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution