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Smoke-free multi-unit housing policies reduce secondhand smoke exposure among ethnically diverse, low-income seniors living in South Florida whose primary language is not English
Methods. In Spring 2013 and Summer 2014, we surveyed residents (n=728) at 15 MUH properties as part of a repeated cross-sectional evaluation design. We tested for differences in reported SHS exposure among residents before and after implementation of a smoke-free policy.
Results. Before policy implementation, 27.1% of residents reported SHS exposure within their apartments from elsewhere in or around their building. At follow-up, the percentage was 19.7% (p=0.019). In multivariate analysis of non-smoking residents after policy implementation, residents who reported having one or more comorbidities were two and a half times more likely to report SHS exposure within their apartments than residents who did not report any comorbidities (aOR=2.55, 95% CI=1.12-5.84); younger seniors were also two and a half times more likely to report SHS exposure within their apartments than older seniors (aOR=2.50, 95% CI=1.17-6.12); and, residents who reported not feeling comfortable confronting someone smoking in violation of the policy were nearly three times more likely to report SHS exposure (aOR=2.83, 95% CI=1.31-6.12).
Conclusions. Considering the vulnerability of low-income seniors to SHS exposure, our findings are particularly relevant to residents, property owners/managers, and public health actors making decisions about smoke-free policies for low-income MUH properties in which ethnically diverse seniors, whose primary language is not English, reside.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationConduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Explain how smoke-free policies are the most effective way of eliminating secondhand smoke exposure in multi-unit housing environments
Discuss how partnerships between local and national actors can educate multi-unit housing property owners and managers on the benefits of adopting smoke-free policies
Describe the benefits of a successful smoke-free multi-unit housing policy strategy in properties serving ethnically diverse, low-income seniors whose primary language is not English
Keyword(s): Tobacco Control, Healthy Housing
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an Assistant Professor of Public Health with a PhD in Public Administration. I practice and teach program planning and evaluation. I was an evaluator for a CDC Community Transformation Grant received by the Broward Regional Health Planning Council in Broward County, Florida, in which a colleague and I evaluated a smoke-free multiunit housing policy intervention. Additionally, I have published in the area of smoke-free multiunit housing policies involving ethnically diverse, low-income seniors.
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.