Smoking in taxis: Findings from a problem-solving approach to tobacco control policy enforcement

Utilizing a problem-solving and community engagement approach to tobacco control policy enforcement, this presentation includes findings from a smoke-free taxi vehicle study conducted in one urban Canadian community. The local participating public health unit identified taxis as a high-risk site for non-compliance to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (tobacco control legislation effective 2006). Baseline data assessed the extent of the problem of smoking in taxis and informed the development of a public health intervention. Tobacco control researchers, health promotion practitioners, and tobacco enforcement officers were engaged in all stages of the project.

Baseline data that described the extent of the problem include: measures of third-hand smoke levels in taxis; taxi passenger intercept surveys; and, key themes from both taxi drivers' focus groups and interviews with taxi administrators. Based on these findings the public health unit designed a health promotion campaign to eliminate cigarette smoking in taxis. A variety of social marketing tools were developed to raise awareness of the problem and existing fines associated with policy non-compliance amongst the target population (drivers and passengers) and more broadly to the general public. Post intervention research findings will draw from surveys and interviews with taxi passengers, drivers, administrators and public health unit stakeholders to capture campaign awareness levels, perceptions of campaign effectiveness, and challenges and facilitators in all stages of the health promotion campaign. This presentation will draw attention to an evidence-informed health promotion campaign that involved collaborative efforts between researchers and public health staff.