title: Prevalence of smoke-free car and home rules in Maine before and after passage of a smoke-free vehicle law, 2007-2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This is the first study to examine the prevalence of self-reported smoke-free rules for private cars and homes before and after the passage of a smoke-free vehicle law.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were examined for 13,461 Maine adults aged 18 or older who participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a state-based telephone survey covering health topics. Self-reported smoke-free car and home rules, smoking behavior, and demographic variables of age, sex, education, income, and children in household were analyzed for prevalence before and after the state's smoke-free vehicle law was passed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of smoke-free car and home rules was significantly higher after Maine's smoke-free vehicle law was passed in the state (P = .004 for car rules and P = .009 for home rules). Variations in smoking rules differed by smoking and demographic variables. People with household incomes of less than $20,000 saw an increase of 14.3% in smoke-free car rules; overall, those with annual incomes of less than $20,000 and those with less than a high school education reported a lower prevalence of smoke-free car rules both before and after the law was passed than did people with higher incomes and higher education levels. The prevalence of smoke-free home rules after the law was implemented was higher among those with 4 or more years of college education than among those with lower levels of education (P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of smoke-free car and home rules among Maine adults was significantly higher after the passage of a statewide smoke-free vehicle law. This apparent change in smoke-free rule prevalence may be indicative of changing social norms related to the unacceptability of secondhand smoke exposure.
authors.affiliation: School of Community and Population Health, University of New England, 716 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME 04103. E-mail: murphy.rebecca@ymail.com.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murphy-Hoefer
authors.affiliation: Market Decisions, Portland, Maine.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.affiliation: Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine, Augusta, Maine.
authors.forename: Dorean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maines
authors.affiliation: Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine, Augusta, Maine.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008281:Maine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution