Influences on parents’ decisions for home and automobile smoking bans in households with smokers

ObjectiveTo understand clinician influence on use of home and automobile smoking bans in homes of children living with a smoker.MethodsParents were surveyed on tobacco use, smoking bans, demographics and opinions about tobacco, including harm from environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Responses from 463 diverse households with smokers were analyzed.Results42% of respondents smoked; 50% had a home smoking ban and 58% an automobile smoking ban. Nonsmokers living with a smoker, those who strongly agreed in ETS harm, and those having a child ≤5 years more often had a home smoking ban. Those recalling their child's doctor ever asking the respondent about their smoking status and African American respondents less frequently had a home ban. Automobile smoking bans were more often held by those with strong agreement in ETS harm and less often found in families having a child receiving Medicaid/uninsured.ConclusionsHaving a strong perception of harm from ETS exposure was associated with having smoking bans. Aspects of health encounters not measured by this study may be negatively influencing adoption of home smoking bans or lead to recall bias.Practice implicationsClinicians should examine the strength, focus, and response to their messages to parents about tobacco.