No-smoking rules not common enough for asthmati...( Urban children with persistent asthma l...),Health

The study, published in the March-April issue of Ambulatory Pediatrics, shows that the message has not reached every parent that any secondhand smoke exposure for children especially those suffering from asthma is detrimental to their health. Parents and caregivers may be trying to limit smoke exposure by smoking in a different room or by opening a window in the car, but these strategies aren't very effective.

"Of course, the best case scenario is if the parents or guardians can quit smoking," said lead author Jill Halterman, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor at Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong. "But that's not always immediately possible. Another option is for parents to institute a "no-smoking" rule in the home and the car, and allow no exceptions to this rule. It is best if smokers always go outside to smoke, and this strategy may also help the parents to eventually quit."

The study surveyed 231 parents of children with persistent and severe asthma at three Rochester pediatric practices. Almost half of the children lived with a smoker. Among all the families surveyed, only 64 percent had complete "no-smoking rules" for the home and car with no exceptions, and among the homes with smokers only 40 percent had such a rule. Children with severe asthma symptoms were no more likely to be protected by a no smoking rule than those with less severe symptoms.

Most caregivers surveyed said their health care providers asked them about smoke exposure in the home, but only 40 percent said they had been asked about exposure in the car where concentration is higher than in the home and few said they were offered resources to h
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Contact: Heather Hare
heather_hare@urmc.rochester.edu
585-273-2840
University of Rochester Medical Center
16-Mar-2006