A Cross-Sectional Study of Smoking Behaviors and Attitudes of Parents in Pediatric Primary Care Settings.

Aleksandra Ratajczak,Karol Ratajczak,Wojciech Feleszko

doi:10.3390/ijerph15071384

Abstract

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is considered an important public health issue in pediatric population. In this study, we aimed to investigate parents’ knowledge on side effects of passive smoking and counseling for parental smoking among pediatricians and family practitioners. Participants were biological parents of pediatric patients up to the age of 18 years old who attended Pediatric Hospital of Medical University of Warsaw. The questionnaire included 28 questions and queries on environmental tobacco smoke in children’s environment. Medical students identified potential subjects and handed out previously created questionnaires. In total, 506 parents of children aged 0–18 years old were interviewed; 41% (207/506) of parents were smokers, 23% (114/506) were asked about ETS exposure by their pediatricians and 41% (205/506) by family physicians during routine visits. Only a minority of the respondents confirmed having “no smoking” policy in their car 31% (157/506) or in their households 24% (121/506). All parents believed that passive smoking could cause at least one harmful effect: most common were more frequent respiratory infections (43%), asthma (40%), and low birth weight (37%). Among smoking parents, 38% (78/207) has tried to quit smoking for their child’s health sake; 63% (131/207) of smokers have never been asked to quit smoking by their doctor. Parents’ understanding of passive smoking among children differs from current medical knowledge. Rates of screening and counseling for parental smoking in pediatric and family practices are still unsatisfactory.

Highlights

Despite public awareness of the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) among children, approximately half of the world’s population of children is constantly exposed to passive smoking [1,2,3].Large differences in smoking prevalence exist between countries and in different environments
Half of all parents surveyed were screened for the presence of household smokers and only about one third of parental smokers were counseled about the dangers of child tobacco smoke exposure thethird risksof associated with ETSwere for children
The low presence of household smokers and only aboutorone parental smokers counseled about the dangers of child tobacco smoke exposure or the risks associated with ETS for children.given

Summary

Introduction

Despite public awareness of the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) among children, approximately half of the world’s population of children is constantly exposed to passive smoking [1,2,3].Large differences in smoking prevalence exist between countries and in different environments (i.e., urban vs. rural, socioeconomic classes). Despite public awareness of the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) among children, approximately half of the world’s population of children is constantly exposed to passive smoking [1,2,3]. The prevalence of passive infant smoking was reported to be around 40% in Europe [5]. Tobacco smoke inhaled during passive smoking is a mixture of gases and microparticles containing nicotine and different toxic substances, irritants, and carcinogens [2,6]. Children have a higher frequency of breaths per minute, their hepatic metabolism is not yet fully developed and they inhale more air per body weight which explains why children are more susceptible to tobacco smoke exposure [7]. Public Health 2018, 15, 1384; doi:10.3390/ijerph15071384 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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