Battling tobacco use at home: an analysis of smoke-free home rules among U.S. veterans from 2001 to 2011

Am J Public Health. 2014 Sep;104 Suppl 4(Suppl 4):S572-9. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.301975.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined national trends in smoke-free home rules among U.S. veterans and nonveterans.

Methods: We used data from the 2001-2002 and 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey to estimate and compare the existence of smoke-free home rules among veterans and nonveterans for each survey period.

Results: The prevalence of a complete smoke-free home rule among veterans increased from 64.0% to 79.7% between 2001 and 2011 (P < .01) but was consistently lower than were rates estimated for nonveterans (67.6% and 84.4%, respectively). Disparities between the 2 groups increased significantly over time (P < .05).

Conclusions: Despite the general increase in the adoption of smoke-free home rules, veterans lag behind the rest of the U.S. population. Interventions promoting the adoption of complete smoke-free home rules are necessary to protect veterans and their families and to reduce disparities.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Housing / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / statistics & numerical data*
  • Vereinigte Staaten
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data*
  • Veterans Health
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution