Beliefs associated with intention to ban smoking in households with smokers.
BACKGROUND
Smoking in homes exposes family members to secondhand smoke, an exposure that is harmful to children and adults. This study identifies barriers to instituting household smoking bans and beliefs that are positively and negatively related to smoking bans in households with smokers.


METHODS
A telephone survey of parents living in Philadelphia with at least 1 smoker and a child under the age of 13 years in the household was conducted in 2012. Using the reasoned action model, the survey assessed beliefs regarding attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy/control predictors of intention to ban household smoking.


RESULTS
Forty-seven percent of households reported high intention to not allow smoking in the home. Regression analysis to identify the reasoned action predictors associated with intention to restrict smoking in the home showed that all 3 of the predictors of intention (attitude, normative pressure, and control) were significantly related to intention. Important underlying beliefs related to intention included beliefs about the health effects of secondhand smoke on children's health, norms regarding those restrictions, and barriers to enforcing such restrictions.


CONCLUSIONS
Messages that increase concern about the health effects of secondhand smoke on children, that contrast the rights of smokers with negative health effects, and that suggest alternative locations to smoke are promising strategies to motivate smokers to implement indoor smoking bans.
Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA;
Michael
M
Hennessy
Amy
A
Bleakley
Giridhar
G
Mallya
Dan
D
Romer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution