Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine if low-cost air-quality monitors providing personalised feedback of household second-hand smoke (SHS) concentrations plus standard health service advice on SHS were more effective than standard advice in helping parents protect their child from SHS. DesignA randomised controlled trial of a personalised intervention delivered to disadvantaged mothers who were exposed to SHS at home. Changes in household concentrations of fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) were the primary outcome. MethodsAir-quality monitors measured household PM2.5 concentrations over approximately 6 days at baseline and at one-month and six-months post-intervention. Data on smoking and smoking-rules were gathered. Participants were randomised to either Group A (standard health service advice on SHS) or Group B (standard advice plus personalised air-quality feedback). Group B participants received personalised air-quality feedback after the baseline measurement and at 1-month. Both groups received air-quality feedback at 6-months. Results120 mothers were recruited of whom 117 were randomised. Follow up was completed after 1-month in 102 and at 6-months in 78 participants. There was no statistically significant reduction in PM2.5 concentrations by either intervention type at 1-month or 6-months, nor significant differences between the two groups at 1-month (p = 0.76) and 6-month follow-up (p = 0.16). ConclusionsNeither standard advice nor standard advice plus personalised air-quality feedback were effective in reducing PM2.5 concentrations in deprived households where smoking occurred. Finding ways of identifying homes where air-quality feedback can be a useful tool to change household smoking behaviour is important to ensure resources are targeted successfully.
Highlights
The introduction is too long and in my view some paragraphs could be omitted or moved to the Discussion: 3rd paragraph, and first half of the 5th paragraph.Response We have shortened the length of the introduction as the reviewer advised
Design: A randomised controlled trial of a personalised intervention delivered to disadvantaged mothers who were exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS) at home
Neither standard advice nor standard advice plus personalised air-quality feedback were effective in reducing PM2.5 concentrations in deprived households where smoking occurred
Summary
The introduction is too long and in my view some paragraphs could be omitted or moved to the Discussion: 3rd paragraph, and first half of the 5th paragraph.Response We have shortened the length of the introduction as the reviewer advised. The introduction is too long and in my view some paragraphs could be omitted or moved to the Discussion: 3rd paragraph, and first half of the 5th paragraph. Non-smokers who live with smokers can have high SHS exposures, young children who spend much of their day at home with a smoker.[6,7]. It is estimated that 40% of children experience regular exposure to SHS with much of this exposure occurring in their own home.[8]. The global burden of this exposure is estimated to be over 600,000 deaths and 190 almost 11 million disability-adjusted life-years per year. Enabling parents to create a smoke-free home is challenging but it is one of the key ways that children’s exposure to SHS can be reduced globally. Scotland is at the forefront of protecting children from exposure to SHS with the Scottish Government’s ‘Take it Right
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