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Changes in child exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (CHETS) study after implementation of smoke-free legislation in Scotland: national cross sectional survey

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akhtar2007bmj7619.pdf (129.8Kb)
Date
13/09/2007
Author
Akhtar, P C
Currie, Dorothy Bruce
Currie, Candace Evelyn
Haw, Sally
Keywords
Passive smoking
Population surveys
Saliva cotinine
Health
RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
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Abstract
Objective To detect any change in exposure to secondhand smoke among primary schoolchildren after implementation of smoke-free legislation in Scotland in March 2006. Design Comparison of nationally representative, cross sectional, class based surveys carried out in the same schools before and after legislation. Setting Scotland. Participants 2559 primary schoolchildren (primary 7; mean age 11.4 years) surveyed in January 2006 (before smoke-free legislation) and 2424 in January 2007 (after legislation). Outcome measures Salivary cotinine concentrations, reports of parental smoking, and exposure to tobacco smoke in public and private places before and after legislation. Results The geometric mean salivary cotinine concentration in non-smoking children fell from 0.36 (95% confidence interval 0.32 to 0.40) ng/ml to 0.22 (0.19 to 0.25) ng/ml after the introduction of smoke-free legislation in Scotland-a 39% reduction. The extent of the fall in cotinine concentration varied according to the number of parent figures in the home who smoked but was statistically significant only among pupils living in households in which neither parent figure smoked (51% fall, from 0.14 (0.13 to 0.16) ng/ml to 0.07 (0.06 to 0.08) ng/ml) and among pupils living in households in which only the father figure smoked (44% fall, from 0.57 (0.47 to 0.70) ng/ml to 0.32 (0.25 to 0.42) ng/ml). Little change occurred in reported exposure to secondhand smoke in pupils' own homes or in cars, but a small decrease in exposure in other people's homes was reported. Pupils reported lower exposure in cafes and restaurants and in public transport after legislation. Conclusions The Scottish smoke-free legislation has reduced exposure to secondhand smoke among young people in Scotland, particularly among groups with lower exposure in the home. We found no evidence of increased secondhand smoke exposure in young people associated with displacement of parental smoking into the home. The Scottish smoke-free legislation has thus had a positive short term impact on young people's health, but further efforts are needed to promote both smoke-free homes and smoking cessation.
Citation
Akhtar , P C , Currie , D B , Currie , C E & Haw , S 2007 , ' Changes in child exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (CHETS) study after implementation of smoke-free legislation in Scotland: national cross sectional survey ' , British Medical Journal , vol. 335 , no. 7619 , pp. 545-9 . https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39311.550197.AE
Publication
British Medical Journal
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39311.550197.AE
ISSN
0959-8138
Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2007 Akhtar et al. This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 3.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt and build upon this work, for commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.
Description
Funding: NHS Health Scotland and the Scottish Executive.
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/4659

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