Kamran Siddiqi Senior Lecturer in Public Health, University of York
Abstract
Background
We conducted four studies in which different settings and agents of change were used to support families to implement smoking restrictions inside homes.
Methods
Design: Four feasibility studies including three RCTs. Agents of change: Children, TB patients, faith leaders and pregnant women.
Settings: Schools, TB clinics, mosques, and maternity services. Intervention: The ‘Smoke Free Homes’ adapted for schools – interactive sessions; TB clinics – behavioural support; mosques – sermons; and maternity services – brief intervention. Target population: Smokers and their families. Outcomes: Smoking restrictions, and SHS exposure.
Findings
Schools - Compared to controls, children who received the intervention were more likely to live in ‘smoke-free homes’. TB clinics – There was a significant reduction in non-smoking TB patients’ exposure to SHS, in the intervention arms. Mosques– No significant difference was observed between the intervention and control trial arms. Maternity services – low recruitment rates, poor intervention acceptability and adherence precluded us from estimating any effect.
The catalysts for change included influence and capabilities of agents of change and the potential for mutual benefit.
Conclusion
‘Smoke Free Homes’ delivered in some settings could benefit non-smokers in reducing their exposure to SHS. We hypothesize that certain key conditions must be met to achieve its full potential.
Source of funding: Medical Research Council (NPRI)
Cancer Research UK
NHS Leeds
