Tobacco smoke incursion into private residences in Israel: a cross-sectional study examining public perceptions of private rights and support for governmental policies

Israel Journal of Health Policy Research

Original Research Article

Laura J. Rosen¹  Noa Theitler²  Michal Bitan³  Vaughan W. Rees⁴  Maya Peled-Raz⁵ 

[1]Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, POB 39040, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

[2]Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, POB 39040, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

[3]Israel Ministry of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel

[4]Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, POB 39040, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

[5]School of Computer Science, College of Management, 7502501, Rishon LeZion, Israel

[6]Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

[7]School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

关键词: Tobacco Smoke Exposure (TSE);    Secondhand smoke (SHS);    Tobacco Smoke Incursion (TSI);    Attitudes;    Smoke-free housing;    Multi-unit housing;    Neighbor smoking;    Residential exposure;    Support for policy;    Secondhand Smoke (SHS);   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13584-023-00573-w

 received in 2023-01-23, accepted in 2023-07-06,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTobacco smoke incursion (TSI) into private residences is a widespread problem in many countries. We sought to assess the prevalence of self-reported TSI and public attitudes about TSI in Israel, a country with a relatively high smoking prevalence and high population density.MethodsWe conducted a random digit dial survey among residents in Israel (N = 285) in 2017, which examined the frequency, source, correlates of, and attitudes towards TSI and potential regulatory options. The cooperation rate was 63.9%.ResultsAmong respondents, 44.7% reported ever experiencing home TSI, with higher exposure among residents of multi-unit housing (MUH) (MUH versus private homes: aOR (Adjusted Odds Ratio): 3.60, CI (Confidence Interval): [1.96, 6.58], p < .001). Most respondents (69.8%), including nearly half of smokers, prioritized the right of individuals to breath smoke-free air in their apartments over the right of smokers to smoke in their apartments. Women and non-smokers were more likely to support the right to breathe smoke-free air (Women versus men: aOR: 2.77 CI: [1.48, 5.16], p = .001; Nonsmokers versus smokers: aOR: 3.21 CI [1.59, 6.48], p = .001). However, only about a quarter (24.8%) of respondents who ever experienced TSI raised the issue with the neighbor who smoked, the neighbor's landlord, or the building committee. The vast majority (85.2%) of all respondents, including three-quarters of smokers, supported smoke-free legislation for multi-unit housing (MUH), with those ever-exposed to TSI and non-smokers more likely to support legislation (ever-exposed versus never-exposed aOR = 2.99, CI [1.28, 6.97], p = 0.011; nonsmokers versus smokers aOR = 3.00, CI [1.28, 7.01], p = 0.011).ConclusionsAmong study participants, tobacco smoke incursion was a common, yet unwelcome experience. Most respondents believed that the right to breathe smoke-free air in one's apartment superseded that of neighbors to smoke anywhere in their home, and most supported legislation to prevent TSI. Though further study is needed to understand better TSI and effective methods for its prevention, our findings suggest that policy interventions, including legal action at the level of the Supreme Court and/or the Knesset, are needed. Regulation, policy initiatives and campaigns to denormalize smoking in proximity to other people and private residences globally could reduce the scope of this widespread problem, protect individuals from home TSI, and improve population health.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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Fig. 3