141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

294037
Effect of secondhand smoke regulation on respiratory admissions


Monday, November 4, 2013

Siosaia Hafoka, MPH, School of Nursing and Health Science, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
Lavinia 'Ulu'ave, MPH, School of Nursing and Health Science, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
TyJha Corbin, MPH, School of Nursing and Health Science, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
Peter Stoker, MPH, School of Nursing and Health Science, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
Elizabeth Duffin, School of Nursing and Health Science, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT
Objective: This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act (UICAA) amendments that were effective on January 1, 2007. The purpose of the UICAA is to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke in public places. Secondhand smoke has been proven to cause and/or exacerbate respiratory illnesses. A decrease in respiratory illness hospital admission rates will support the purpose of the UICAA.

Methods: Data from all acute and critical care hospitals with an Emergency Department from four Utah counties were observed. The data was extracted from the Utah Department of Health's Indicator based Information System for Public Health (IBIS-PH).

Results: A simple linear regression analysis was performed for each county. The data from IBIS-PH was used to calculate age-adjusted rates. Linear equations, r-squared coefficients, and 95% Confidence Intervals were used to determine statistical significance in each county. Three of the four counties displayed a decrease in admission rates after the UICAA amendments were implemented and one county displayed a statistically significant increase in rate of admissions.

Conclusions: Asthma and bronchitis hospital admission rates decreased in three of the four counties. Some of the rate decreases were statistically significant. More studies will need to be conducted to determine if there is a direct correlation between the UICAA and the decrease in asthma and bronchitis hospital admissions.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Assess possible correlation between tobacco regulation and hospital respiratory admissions. Identify statistically significant changes in respiratory illness admissions from hospital data. Identify sources for retrieving hospital discharge data.

Keyword(s): Tobacco Policy, Public Health Legislation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been a member of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program at a local health department and have worked with work sites to implement smoke-free policies. I have also educated elected officials about positive outcomes from reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.
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.

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