Online Program

278122
A rural tobacco smoke pollution study: Does co-location matter?


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Kelly Buettner-Schmidt, PhD, RN, Nursing, Minot State University, Minot, ND
Marie L. Lobo, PhD, RN, FAAN, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Mark J. Travers, PhD, MS, Dept. of Health Behavior and Aerosol Pollution Exposure Research Laboratory (APERL)., Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
Blake Boursaw, MS, College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
This study's purpose was to determine whether the co-location of restaurants and bars in one establishment influenced tobacco smoke pollution levels. This study was conducted in a predominantly rural state. It was the first U.S. statewide study on tobacco smoke pollution levels in hospitality venues and it addressed a global literature gap of quantifying rural indoor tobacco smoke pollution

Methods: A sample of restaurant and bars in North Dakota meeting specific criteria were assessed for the indoor air quality indicator of PM2.5.

Results: Venues not co-located (n = 58) had significantly lower mean tobacco smoke pollution levels (equal variances not assumed, t(12.69) = -4.025, p = .002) than did co-located venues (n = 11) (GM PM2.5 = 7.4 µg/m3 and 32.1 µg/m3 respectively). Chi-square exploratory analysis of compliance by venue co-location status was significant, n = 70, Fisher's Exact test, p < .01, ϕ = -.48, with a negative large effect size.

Conclusions: Co-location of venues increased tobacco smoke pollution levels in the restaurant part of the venue that is, by law, required to be smoke free. Compliance with smoke-free laws decreased significantly in co-located venues.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe whether the location of hospitality venues, in terms of rurality, presence of local ordinances, and socioeconomic status, influences the quantity of tobacco smoke pollution in a predominantly rural state.

Keyword(s): Tobacco Policy, Rural Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked in tobacco control since 1992 and have conducted other studies related tobacco control policies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.