259057 Secondhand smoke exposure and association with smoking behavior among young adults in bars

Monday, October 29, 2012

Sara Kalkhoran, MD , Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Pamela Ling, MD, MPH , Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Background: Young adults still initiate smoking, and cessation before age 30 eliminates most negative health effects. We described frequency of SHS exposure among young adults attending bars and associations between SHS exposure, attitudes and smoking behavior.

Methods: Randomized time-location samples of bar-going young adults aged 18-26 in San Diego, CA (N=1305) and Oklahoma City (OKC) (N=1264) and Tulsa (N=1250), OK completed cross-sectional surveys from Sept 2010 to July 2011. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated associations between SHS exposure, attitudes about dangers of SHS, and (1) intention to quit among current smokers, and (2) susceptibility to start smoking among nonsmokers, controlling for demographic variables.

Results: Over 90% of all respondents reported past 7 day exposure to any SHS, and over 70% reported exposure in a bar (73.2% in San Diego, 79.7% in OKC, and 75% in Tulsa). Exposure in was lower in San Diego than in Oklahoma. Exposure to SHS at home was negatively associated with attempts to quit in daily smokers (OR=0.70 95%CI [0.51, 0.96]). Believing SHS is dangerous was significantly associated with quit attempts among smokers (OR=1.27 [1.03,1.57]). Among nonsmokers, any SHS exposure was associated with susceptibility to start smoking (OR=1.66 [1.12, 2.47]), but those with beliefs that SHS exposure was harmful were significantly less susceptible to start smoking (OR=0.345 [0.28, 0.43]).

Conclusions: Young adults attending bars report frequent SHS exposure. Rates were significantly lower in California, but higher than statewide reports. Promoting smokefree environments and education on the harmful effects of SHS may decrease tobacco use in this population.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe rates of self reported secondhand smoke exposure among young adult bar and nightclub patrons 2) Compare secondhand smoke exposure among young adults in San Diego, CA and Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK 3) Describe association between secondhand smoke exposure and attitudes about the dangers of exposure and smoking behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Internal Medicine resident at the University of California, San Francisco and have been working at the Center for Tobacco Control under the supervision of Dr. Pamela Ling on studying secondhand smoke exposure patterns and attitudes in young adults in bars. Among my scientific interests is the development of strategies to promote smokefree environments and educate young adults on the harmful health impacts of secondhand smoke exposure.
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.

Back to: 3388.0: Epidemiology & Special Populations: ATOD Studies