Partial Smoking Ban Research Articles

The Impact of Implementing Smoking Bans Among Incarcerated Substance Users: A Qualitative Study

This article reports a study evaluating the effects of implementing smoking bans among drug-using prisoners in Taiwan. Seventy-seven new entrants were recruited in May 2008. Six focus groups were conducted in a prison-based treatment center, the only prison with a total smoking ban in Taiwan. All the subjects were male and their average age was 37 years. Three general reactions to the ban were identified across all focus groups: (a) unfair/hypocritical policy; (b) being forced to stop smoking; and (c) finding ways to smoke anyway. Future studies should compare the effects of total versus partial smoking bans among drug abusers in prison to better explore policy options.

Framing knowledge and innocent victims. Europe bans smoking in public places

Most European countries have adopted partial or comprehensive smoking bans in public places within a short period of time, although the underlying evidence on the risk of second-hand smoke is almost 20 years old. After giving a short overview of European smoking bans, the article aims to analyze and discuss what can explain this wave of smoking bans, not only regarding the similarities of the bans themselves, but also of the arguments proposed in favor of them. While typical explanations in public policy studies fall short of explaining the momentum and similarity of smoking bans, the article discusses how the selective framing of knowledge and innocent victims can help to explain the strong impact of this particular policy proposal.

A cross-sectional study on levels of second-hand smoke in restaurants and bars in five cities in China

ObjectivesTo assess indoor second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in restaurants and bars via PM2.5 (fine particles 2.5 μm in diameter and smaller) level measurements in five cities in China.MethodsThe study was...

A cross-sectional study on levels of secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars in five cities in China

ObjectivesTo assess indoor secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in restaurants and bars via PM2.5 level measurements in five cities in China.MethodsThe study was conducted from July to September in 2007 in...

Smoking Bans, Health and Science: A Comparative Study of Policy Networks and Smoking Policies in England, Germany and Denmark

After long trailing the American development on tobacco control, Europe has seen a big wave of public place smoking bans in the past five years, beginning when Ireland took the plunge and banned all smoking in workplaces in 2004. Inspired by the Irish development, most European countries have now introduced their own smoke-free legislation and in most cases, the main topic of debate is the question of banning smoking in bars and restaurants to protect employees and other customers against second hand smoking.The simultaneous timing of European smoke-free legislation and the general consensus on conclusive evidence against second hand smoking hide interesting comparative differences between countries, however. What may seem like petty differences between partial smoking bans on one hand and Irish-style comprehensive smoking bans with no loopholes or dedicated smoking rooms on the other, the impact on the ground level is significant. For example, while practically no bars are entirely smoke-free in Berlin, all pubs in London are. The question is what can explain these policy differences and what this tells us about the balancing of health concerns, scientific knowledge, economy and individual rights in the formation of public health policy.The paper compares England, Germany and Denmark who all adopted legislation on second hand smoking in public places in 2007, but where the English ban is as comprehensive as the Irish, the German is a minimal one with Denmark somewhere in the middle. The paper suggests these differences can be explained by looking at the formation of policy networks around tobacco control in each country and how these networks privilege health arguments differently, in particular by granting different roles for the impact of scientific knowledge on policy. The empirical argument is backed by research interviews with policymakers, anti-tobacco advocacy groups and scientists involved in the public debate about smoking in addition to material on the policy process in each country. Altogether, this analysis should help to explain the different policy paths as well as extend our understanding of the relationship between scientific knowledge and public health policy.

Variations in Smoking After Admission To Psychiatric Inpatient Units and Impact of a Partial Smoking Ban On Smoking and On Smoking-Related Perceptions

Smoke-related problems are particularly frequent in psychiatry, with additional concerns about iatrogenic effects on smoking in inpatient settings. To study the impact of a partial smoking ban on psychiatric patients and staff members. Using a pre- and post-intervention design, comparison of smoke-related characteristics and perceptions permitted changes after the introduction of smoking restrictions in 2002 to be studied. Ninety-one inpatients and 110 staff members participated in 2001 before intervention, and 134 inpatients and 85 staff members participated in 2005. After reinforcement of smoking restrictions, no significant changes in smoking prevalence or severity were observed, but there was a change in attitude for patients, more of whom were considering stopping. Daily cigarette consumption after admission changed significantly between 2001 and 2005. A marked decrease after three days in hospital as compared to the week before entry was observed in 2005 (p = 0.005), whereas in 2001 the trend was towards increase (p = 0.06). Furthermore, although the perception of quantity of smoke decreased (p = 0.0005) for both patients and staff, discomfort related to smoke remained unchanged. The introduction of a partial smoking ban had favourable effects on patients' cigarette consumption and attitudes, but more efforts need to be pursued.

Indoor air quality in prisons before and after implementation of a smoking ban law

Objective:To ascertain whether a new indoor smoking ban law in North Carolina correctional facilities was successfully implemented and whether the indoor air quality has improved as a result.Method:Before the law...

Acceptability and impact of a partial smoking ban followed by a total smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital

Objective To assess the impact of a partial smoking ban followed by a total smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital in Switzerland. Methods In 2003, smoking was allowed everywhere in psychiatric units. In 2004, smoking was prohibited everywhere except in smoking rooms. In 2006, smoking rooms were removed and smoking was totally prohibited indoors. Patients and staff were surveyed in 2003 ( n = 106), 2004 ( n = 108), 2005 ( n = 119) and 2006 ( n = 134). Results Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) decreased after the partial ban and further decreased after the total ban. Among patients, after the total ban, more smokers attempted to quit smoking (18%) relative to before the total ban (2%, odds ratio = 10.1, p = 0.01). More smokers said that hospital staff gave them nicotine replacement products after the total ban (52%), compared with before (13%, odds ratio = 7.6, p < 0.001). Many participants (55%) commented that the total ban was too strict, and most (64%) preferred the partial ban. Conclusions The partial ban decreased exposure to ETS and the total ban further improved the situation and increased the proportion of smokers who attempted to quit smoking and received nicotine medications. The total ban was loosely enforced and was overall acceptable, but most participants preferred a partial ban.

Do total smoking bans affect the recruitment and retention of adolescents in inpatient substance abuse treatment programs?: A 5-year medical chart review, 2001–2005

Adolescents engaged in substance abuse treatment manifest a rate of cigarette smoking approximately four times higher than that of youth in the general population (∼80% vs. 20%) and a high rate of smoking persistence into adulthood. Although there has been a shift toward the implementation of no-smoking policies in substance abuse treatment programs, few studies have examined the relation between cigarette-smoking bans and key clinical outcomes. The current study examined the medical charts of all adolescents ( N = 520) admitted to the only adolescent hospital-based substance abuse treatment program in the northern two thirds of the province of British Columbia, Canada. During the span of the study period (March 2001–December 2005), the treatment site moved from a partial smoking ban to a total smoking ban, and then retreated to partial smoking ban. The total smoking ban was not associated with a lower proportion of adolescent smokers seeking treatment at the facility or a lower treatment completion rate among smokers. Total smoking bans do not appear to be an obstacle for adolescent smokers seeking residential substance abuse treatment, nor do total smoking bans appear to compromise the treatment completion rates of smokers in comparison to nonsmokers. Despite these null findings, the effective implementation of smoke-free policies in adolescent substance abuse treatment programs requires not only large-scale organizational change but also the transformation of current commonly held beliefs about tobacco dependence in addictions treatment and recovery communities.

Acceptability and impact of partial smoking ban, followed by a total smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital

Acceptability and impact of partial smoking ban, followed by a total smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital

Acceptability and impact of a partial smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital

Objective. The acceptability and impact of partial smoking bans in psychiatric hospitals are not well documented. We assessed the impact of a partial smoking ban in a psychiatric hospital in Switzerland. Methods. Before the intervention, smoking was not allowed in bedrooms and dining rooms, but this ban was not enforced. The intervention consisted of banning smoking everywhere, except in dedicated smoking rooms. Patients and staff were surveyed before (October 2003, 49 patients and 57 staff) and 2 months after the smoking ban (April 2004, 54 patients and 54 staff). Analyses included both patients and staff. Results. Compared with baseline, after the intervention twice as many non-smokers reported that they were “never” exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in bedrooms (before = 25.0%, after = 54.5%, p = 0.046), dining rooms (35.5 vs. 65.5%, p = 0.037), corridors (10.4 vs. 30.9%, p = 0.001) and meeting rooms (36.8 vs. 75.0%, p = 0.012). The smoking ban was loosely enforced; although the ban reduced ETS, substantial exposure to ETS remained after it was introduced. Most participants (87%) rejected the idea of a total smoking ban. Conclusion. The partial smoking ban was well accepted and was associated with less exposure to ETS. However, even a partial ban proved difficult to enforce in this hospital.

Household Characteristics, Smoking Bans, and Passive Smoke Exposure in Young Children

Introduction Young children are vulnerable to the health effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in their own homes. Characteristics of households and the use of smoking bans (i.e., no smoking allowed) as an indicator of smoke exposure need to be understood before interventions can be developed to eliminate ETS exposure in homes where young children live. Methods This cross-sectional, descriptive study investigated demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, health of children, smoking practices, and the presence of smoking bans in households. A survey questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 226 English- and Spanish-speaking subjects, 18 to 50 years of age, including both smokers and nonsmokers. Cotinine levels of urine samples from children measured actual smoke exposure to confirm reports of home smoking policies. Results Ethnicity of households ( P < .001) and negative attitudes toward smoke exposure ( P < .001) predicted the presence of smoking bans. The number of households with no or partial smoking bans correlated significantly with urine cotinine levels ( r = .486 ); the presence of no or partial smoking bans predicted smoke exposure in households. Discussion Because the use of smoking bans in predicting household smoke exposure has not been previously demonstrated, further study is needed to determine how smoking bans can be utilized to eliminate or reduce smoke exposure in homes where children live.

Health leaders slam partial smoking ban

Health leaders slam partial smoking ban

Public health and therapeutic aspects of smoking bans in mental health and addiction settings.

Health care facilities are increasingly implementing policies that ban smoking. A concern has been raised that these policies may have a negative impact on smokers who are mentally ill or substance dependent. The authors conducted a literature review to analyze the relevant empirical evidence. Major health care databases were searched. Major search terms included smoking, smoking cessation, nicotine, health policy, hospital policy, smoke-free policy, psychiatric disorders, and substance use disorders. The search was limited to empirical studies, which were analyzed on the basis of design, the behavioral indicators monitored, and the results of questionnaires. A total of 22 investigations of the impact of total or partial smoking bans suggest that the policies have had no major longstanding untoward effect in terms of behavioral indicators of unrest or compliance. However, the policies appear to have had little or no effect on smoking cessation. Smoking cessation strategies should be an inherent component of policies that ban smoking.