Predictors of Voluntary Home-Smoking Restrictions and Associations with an Objective Measure of In-Home Smoking among Subsidized Housing Tenants

Abstract

Examine predictors of voluntary home-smoking restrictions (HSRs) and associations with an objective measure of in-home smoking. Cross-sectional. Publicly subsidized multiunit housing units managed by private company in Columbus, Ohio, without a smoke-free housing policy. Probability sample of primary leaseholders (N = 301, 64% response rate). Self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors collected during face-to-face survey in fall 2011, including individual (e.g., knowledge of health effects), social (e.g., number of friends who smoke), and environmental (e.g., safety) factors hypothesized to be related to having HSRs. Surface nicotine concentration (μg/m(2)) based on samples collected from wood surface in respondents' living rooms (n = 279). Multiple linear and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with having HSRs and with indoor surface nicotine concentrations. Fewer than one-third (29.2%) of tenants had complete HSRs, while more than half (55.8%) had partial restrictions. Several individual and social factors, but no environmental/community factors, were associated with having HSRs. Type of HSRs (p < .001) and smoking status (p < .001) were independently associated with mean surface nicotine concentrations. Few subsidized housing tenants voluntarily limit in-home smoking. Partial restrictions could be considered as a harm reduction strategy but may be less effective among smokers. Strategies to change social norms are also needed to modify in-home smoking behavior among subsidized housing tenants.