Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106765

Larry E. Swacina, MS, RS, CIH, CSP, Environmental Health Division, Winnebago County Health Department, 401 Division Street, Rockford, IL 61104, 815 720-4110, swacina@charter.net and May Nawal Lutfiyya, PhD, Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107.

Abstract Purpose / Hypotheses: To examine what, if any, relationship exists between smoking ban policies and asthma related, demographic, and health services utilization variables. Methods: Univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to analyze 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to answer the research question. Even though only six states ban all smoking in all public spaces, many work places ban smoking in all public areas and /or all work areas. A ‘smoking ban' variable was created that merged these three levels of banned smoking and was the dependent variable in the bivariate and multivariate analyses conducted. Results: The analysis explained 88% of the overall cases and yielded that those living or working in places where smoking was banned had greater odds (OR=1.54; CI 1.51, 1.56) of having less severely classified asthma; of having a primary care provider (OR=2.78; CI 2.74, 2.82); of having health insurance (OR=2.02; CI 1.99, 2.05); and of being a former smoker (OR=1.35; CI 1.33, 1.38). Additionally, this same population had lesser odds of having seen a health professional for urgent treatment of worsening asthma symptoms (OR=0.63; CI .62, .64); and of having to visit an ED for asthma care (OR=0.83; CI .81, .84) Conclusions: This analysis indicates that a relationship may exist between decreased exacerbation of asthma symptoms and working and/or living in areas with smoking ban policies.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the HP2010 smoking ban recommendations.
• Describe the relationship between smoking ban policies and three asthma specific variables.
• Articulate the recommendation for smoking bans to reduce ETS exposure as given in The Guide to Community Preventive Services.

Keywords: Asthma, Tobacco Legislation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.