Community Smoke-free Laws and Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Home Smoking Policies and Support for Public Smoke-free Policy

The study examined the association between smoke-free laws, home smoking policies, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), and support for smoke-free policy. An internet-based survey was administered to Kentucky residents from 2005-2010. The sample was drawn from the e-Rewards Consumer™ Panel (N=14,000). Sample sizes ranged from 593 in 2005 to 402 in 2010. Among the 2,434 participants, most were female (67%), between the ages of 35 and 54 (57%), had at least some college education (80%), were married (68%) and non-smokers (80%). Nearly half lived in a smoke-free community (42%). Most had a smoke-free home policy (78%) and were not exposed to SHS in the workplace (81%). The average number of hours exposed to SHS in the past week was 11.2 (SD=28.8). On average, those living in counties with smoke-free laws were exposed to about 3.5 fewer hours of SHS in the prior week, compared to those living in counties without laws, controlling for adult smoking rate (p=.01). There was no difference in the prevalence of smoke-free homes between those living in smoke-free counties and those without these laws. Those living in smoke-free counties were 1.3 times more likely than those in counties without smoke-free laws to support the laws, controlling for adult smoking rate (p=.03). These findings underscore the public health protections afforded by smoke-free laws. There was significantly more support for these laws in smoke-free counties, even though the smoking rate did not differ between those living in smoke-free counties and those living in counties without these laws.