title: Smoke-Free Multi-unit Housing Policies Show Promise in Reducing Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Seniors.
abstract: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a public health issue for residents of multi-unit housing (MUH) properties. We evaluated the impact of smoke-free policy implementation on reported SHS exposure among racially, ethnically diverse seniors living in low-income MUH properties. In Spring 2013 and Summer 2014, we surveyed residents (n = 960) at 15 MUH properties in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida. The percentage of residents reporting SHS exposure within their apartments from elsewhere in or around their building decreased from 31.1 %, before policy implementation, to 23.6 % at follow-up (p = 0.02). In multivariate analysis of non-smoking residents after policy implementation, residents who reported having one or more comorbidities were two times more likely to report SHS exposure (aOR 2.23, 95 % CI 1.12-4.40). Considering the vulnerability of low-income seniors to SHS exposure, our findings are relevant to residents, property owners/managers, and public health professionals making decisions about smoke-free policies for MUH properties in which seniors reside.
authors.affiliation: Master of Public Health Program, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328, USA. Lucas.Hollar@nova.edu.
authors.forename: T Lucas
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hollar
authors.affiliation: Master of Public Health Program, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3200 South University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Area Health Education Center, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.affiliation: Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Hollywood, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Teina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Hollywood, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DeLucca
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011638:Public Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Housing for the elderly; Minority health; Smoke-free policy; Smoking; Tobacco smoke pollution