title: Correlates of smoke-free housing policies and interest in implementing policies among multiunit housing owners in New York City.
abstract: Secondhand smoke exposure is a concern in multiunit housing, where smoke can migrate between apartments. In 2012, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted a cross-sectional mail and phone survey among a random sample of low-income and market-rate multiunit housing owners and managers in NYC. The study compared experiences and attitudes regarding smoke-free policies between owners/managers (owners) with and without low-income units. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the correlates of smoke-free residential unit rules and interest in adopting new smoke-free rules. Perceived benefits and challenges of implementing smoke-free rules were also examined. Overall, one-third of owners prohibited smoking in individual units. Among owners, nearly one-third owned or managed buildings with designated certified low-income units. Owners with low-income units were less likely than those without to have a smoke-free unit policy (26 vs. 36 %, p < 0.01) or be aware that owners can legally adopt smoke-free building policies (60 vs. 70 %, p < 0.01). In the final model, owners who believed that owners could legally adopt smoke-free policies were more likely to have a smoke-free unit policy, while current smokers and owners of larger buildings were less likely to have a policy. Nearly three quarters of owners without smoke-free units were interested in prohibiting smoking in all of their building/units (73 %). Among owners, correlates of interest in prohibiting smoking included awareness that secondhand smoke is a health issue and knowledge of their legal rights to prohibit smoking in their buildings. Current smokers were less likely to be interested in future smoke-free policies. Educational programs promoting awareness of owners' legal right to adopt smoke-free policies in residential buildings may improve the availability of smoke-free multiunit housing.
authors: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA, sfarley@health.nyc.gov.
authors: Shannon M
authors: SM
authors: Farley
authors: Elizabeth Needham
authors: EN
authors: Waddell
authors: Micaela H
authors: MH
authors: Coady
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Grimshaw
authors: Danielle A
authors: DA
authors: Wright
authors: Jenna
authors: J
authors: Mandel-Ricci
authors: Susan M
authors: SM
authors: Kansagra
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health