Dr Rhona Reardon Stop Smoking Lead Nurse/Coordinator, Public Health Department, States of Jersey
Dr Julie Luscombe Senior Health Improvement Officer for Health & Social Services, Public Health Department, States of Jersey
Abstract
Aim:
Public consultation showed that introducing smoke free car legislation in Jersey was strongly supported generally, but smokers, older adults and males were less supportive. This presented an opportunity to develop a theory based campaign aimed at increasing general awareness and to influence beliefs and behaviours of those less supportive of the new law.
Method:
Interventions were based on health psychology models to influence perception of new social norms around smoking in cars and to influence threat and coping appraisals in the following ways:
• A primary school competition encouraged early adopters to sign up to make their cars smoke free and to display smoke free car stickers on their vehicles;
• The creation of posters; to raise awareness of children’s vulnerability to second hand smoking and to influence beliefs around coping without smoking on short journey lengths;
• Media work to increase awareness.
Conclusion:
The campaign will be evaluated by measuring whether there is a reduction in the number of children reporting exposure to second-hand smoke in vehicles in the young people's health survey and by compliance to the legislation. Families who took part in the smoke free car competition will be invited to complete a questionnaire.
