Enforcing an Outdoor Smoking Ban on a College Campus: Effects of a Multicomponent Approach

Abstract

Objectives: Data on effective strategies to enforce policies banning outdoor smoking are sparse. This study tested the effects of an enforcement package implemented on a college campus. Participants: Thirty-nine observers recorded compliance of 709 outside smokers. Methods: Smoking within 25 feet of buildings was noncompliant. The intervention included moving receptacles, marking the ground, improving signage, and distributing reinforcements and reminder cards. Results: The proportion of smokers complying with the ban was 33% during the baseline observation period, increased to 74% during the intervention week, and was at 54% during the follow-up. Differences across conditions was statistically significant (χ² (2, N = 709) = 6.299, p <.001). Compliance proportions varied by location in all conditions. Conclusions: Enforcing an outdoor smoking ban using a multiple component package increased compliance with the nonsmoking policy on a college campus.

Keywords:

• smoking
• tobacco smoke pollution
• public policy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The project was partly supported by The BACCHUS Network and The Office of Health Enhancement of the Curry Health Center at The University of Montana. The authors thank the students and staff at The Health Enhancement office for completing observations. The authors also thank Casey Ruggiero for her assistance with data entry and Olivia Jolly for her enthusiasm.

Dr Harris is at the School of Public and Community Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Ms Kovach was at the School of Public and Community Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana at the time this research was conducted. Ms Stearns is at the The Health Enhancement Office of the Curry Health Center, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Dr Harrar is at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, The College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, Montana.