Secondhand Smoke Survey - UK HealthCare

UK HealthCare Survey: Significant Number of Kentucky Households Allow Smoking Indoors

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2006) - A new statewide UK HealthCare survey says that 34 percent of Kentuckians allow smoking in their homes. Combined with census data, it is estimated that more than 1.4 million in the state are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home.

Just as alarming, says UK College of Nursing researcher Ellen Hahn, is that despite numerous media reports indicating the negative effects of secondhand smoke, only 43 percent of Kentuckians perceive it as a serious health hazard. Among smokers, only 12 percent view secondhand smoke as a serious health hazard.
“ Secondhand smoke is identified as a ‘toxic air contaminant’ in a recent California EPA report,” Hahn said. “Among numerous health problems, secondhand smoke is a cause of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. While there is a sizeable population of smokers in Kentucky, we can all make efforts to take smoking outside and that effort alone will significantly contribute to improved health across the state.”

Of the 593 Kentuckians who took the on-line survey, 29 percent are smokers. Those who reported that smoking is allowed in their homes were just as likely to have children in the home as those who did not report home exposure to secondhand smoke.

“ Secondhand smoke is damaging to children’s physical and cognitive health,” said Dr. David Mannino, associate professor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, UK College of Medicine. “Recent research now suggests that children with tobacco smoke exposure perform worse on tests of cognitive abilities, such as math and reading, than those who are not regularly exposed. And, secondhand smoke exposure is an established risk factor for the worsening of asthma in both children and adults."

Of those who work outside the home in an indoor environment, 75 percent reported that smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the work building. Females were more likely than males to work in smoke-free environments. However, females reported being more exposed to secondhand smoke during the past week than males. Females reported breathing secondhand smoke an average of 20.5 hours per week while males said they breathe secondhand smoke 14.7 hours per week.

According to Hahn, secondhand smoke exposure presents not only negative health effects, but also a financial burden for the nation.
A recent study by researchers at Georgia State University and the Society of Actuaries concluded that the annual cost of excess medical care, mortality and morbidity from secondhand smoke exposure in the United States is about $10 billion.
Methods

The UK HealthCare survey was conducted by MarketTools, a national online consumer panel of more than 2.1 million members nationwide. The sample was recruited off-line and the demographics closely match the 2000 U.S. Census for Kentucky. Participants are the head of the household, 21 years or older, the healthcare decision-maker, and resides in the sponsor’s state. For more information on MarketTools, go to www.markettools.com.
The Kentucky sample comprised 593 adults. The margin of error was + or – 3% at the 90 percent confidence level. The Internet survey was conducted from Sep. 21 through Oct. 10, 2005.