Exploring the views of parents and health professionals on interventions to reduce infant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: A pilot study

Abstract

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is an important public health risk for young children. A pilot study was designed to ascertain the elements important in the development of an intervention to reduce children's exposure in the home. The study aimed to elicit views regarding the type of advice received by parents and the nature of training that health professionals have been exposed to. Information was also sought for the development of future interventions. A qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews was employed. Participants were recruited from a large health centre in the West Midlands, UK. Convenience sampling was used to identify six mothers who smoked and had a newborn baby. Four health visitors and two general practitioners (GPs) working at the health centre were also interviewed. Findings indicate that the training and advice received by parents and health professionals is limited to dissemination of basic factual information. This is not considered to be efficacious. Interventions that emphasise self-efficacy and take a more holistic approach to delivery may be more effective. There is also a clear need for health professional training and delivery to be collaborative and to engage health professionals on a multidisciplinary basis.

Key words:

• child healthcare
• prevention
• passive smoking
• environmental tobacco smoke
• interventions