Reducing Passive Smoking by Promoting Self Segregation of Smokers Using Signs and Thematic Prompts

Abstract

Recent research has demonstrated that passive smoking presents a long-term health hazard for nonsmokers and it is often a source of immediate discomfort for them. As a result a high percentage of nonsmokers and some smokers agree that the exposure of nonsmokers to sidestream smoke should be minimized whenever possible. An ABAB reversal design was used to test the effects of the presentation and removal of signs and thematic prompts (ashtrays) that designated a smoking area and a smoke-free area in the main University Union Cafeteria at the University of Otago. The posting of signs and the relocation of ashtrays significantly increased the proportion of the total number of smokers restricting their activity to the designated area. A follow-up observation conducted two weeks after the completion of Intervention 2 showed that this behaviour had been maintained. Although the prompts were effective in moving smokers into the smoking area the overall number of smokers did not differ significantly across conditions.