Public Opinion and Smoke-Free Laws

Public support for Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky's smoke-free law, perception of health risks from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), smoking behaviors, and frequency of visiting restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues were assessed pre- and post-law. Two cohorts of noninstitutionaliz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy, politics & nursing practice politics & nursing practice, 2007-11, Vol.8 (4), p.262-270
Main Authors: Rayens, Mary Kay, Hahn, Ellen J., Langley, Ronald E., Hedgecock, Susan, Butler, Karen M., Greathouse-Maggio, Lisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
Bans
Bars
Cancer
Cardiovascular diseases
Data Collection
Entertainment
Female
Health education
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Humans
Kentucky
Law
Legislation
Male
Middle Aged
Passive smoking
Policy making
Public Facilities
Public health
Public Opinion
Public support
Respondents
Restaurants
Smoking
Smoking - legislation & jurisprudence
Smoking - psychology
Smoking Prevention
Telephone surveys
Tobacco Smoke Pollution - legislation & jurisprudence
Tobacco Smoke Pollution - prevention & control
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Summary:Public support for Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky's smoke-free law, perception of health risks from exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), smoking behaviors, and frequency of visiting restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues were assessed pre- and post-law. Two cohorts of noninstitutionalized adults (N = 2,146) were randomly selected and invited to participate in a 10- to 15-min telephone survey. Public support for the smoke-free law increased from 56% to 63%, and respondents were 1.3 times more likely to perceive SHS exposure as a health risk after the law took effect. Although adult smoking and home smoking policy did not change post-law, adults frequented public venues at least as much as before the law. Lexington adults favored the smoke-free legislation despite living in a traditionally protobacco climate. The smokefree law acted as a public health intervention as it increased perception of risk of heart disease and cancer from SHS exposure.
ISSN:1527-1544
1552-7468
DOI:10.1177/1527154407312736