Effects of Second Hand

Smoke on the Urban

Family

By

Family Nurse Practitioner

Students for NURS 512- Urban
Family Theory and Research

What is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is environmental tobacco

smoke (ETS) that is inhaled involuntarily and
passively. SHS is a combination of side stream
smoke, which is given off by the burning tobacco
product and mainstream smoke, which is
exhaled by a nearby smoker (American Cancer
Society, 2014).

Why is Secondhand Smoke Exposure a

Problem?

Secondhand smoke (SHS) Is a cancer causing agent that

jeopardizes the health of non- smokers (Jones et al., 2011).
Childhood morbidities that have a high prevalence in urban
dwellings, such as respiratory infections, asthma, otitis media,
and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have been linked to
secondhand smoke from caregivers (Jones et al., 2011).
In the U.S., SHS is considered a public health burden that costs
approximately $10 million in medical care costs (Healthy
People 2020).

Population and Variables

Focus population for the evaluation of the effects

of secondhand smoke includes low income, inner
city urban families that have close contact with
an everyday smoker (caregiver).
Variables include the caregivers perceptions of:
* seriousness of secondhand smoke
* susceptibility to secondhand smoke
* barriers inhibiting a smoke free environment
* benefits of a smoke free environment
Variables are measured using The Health Belief
Model.

Review of Literature

The overall focus of literature that discusses

secondhand smoke effects on the urban family
supports the idea that promotion of a smoke
free environment greatly decreases childhood
morbidities, thus decreasing medical costs
(Jones et al., 2011).
The caregivers perception of factors
associated with secondhand smoke exposure
has a direct influence on cessation of smoke in
the home (Jones et al., 2011).
Smoke cessation in the home promotes a
healthy environment and also decreases loss
of income related to sickness.

Review of Literature

SHS poses significant mortality and morbidity risks to

adults and children.
SHS contributes to over 7,000 deaths annually, related to
lung cancer (CDC,2014).
Randomized studies among inner city children revealed
SHS as a major contributor to asthma exacerbations (Butz
et al, 2011).
Cross- sectional studies in Middle- Eastern urban hospitals
identified a correlation between an increase in low birth
weight babies born to mothers exposed to secondhand
smoke (Khader, 2011).
Exploratory studies conducted among urban college
students identified a decrease in cognitive functions and
an impairment of memory in students exposed to
secondhand smoke (Heffernan & ONeill, 2012).

Conceptual Framework

Kurt Lewins, Health Belief Model (HBM), serves

as the theoretical framework to examine the
effects of secondhand smoke on the urban
family.
Lewins theory proposes that the caregivers
perceptions and behaviors surrounding
secondhand smoke directly impact a smoke- free
home environment (Jones et al., 2011).
Lewins, HBM, proves effective in assisting
nurse practitioners in understanding and
formulating effective plans to bring about
positive outcomes for the urban family affected
by secondhand smoking caregivers.

Recommendation for future

study.

Studies examining the effects of indoor

smoking bans focusing on the time
between an intervention and
quantifiable benefit/effect.
Studies examining preintervention
health status vs. post-invention health
status is needed to quantify the
effectiveness of particular
interventions.

Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that if a health care

professional can change the
caregivers (i.e. smokers) attitude and
belief about the effect of SHS exposure,
the smoker will modify their behavior
to create a smoke-free home.

Theoretical Definition

Based on current literature

Secondhand smoking occurs when

nonsmokers are exposed to air that is

polluted by toxins found in cigarettes.

Operational Definition

The variables in this study were

measured through interviews
developed from previous studies and
information from HCP working with
smokers that are caregivers, a
qualitative study conducted through
one on one interview to encourage
open discussion.

Data Collection Instrument

Due to the time constraints of this, it was

the determined that the most effective
data collecting method would be an
interview.
The interviews were conducted face to
face and one on one between researcher
and caregiver(s).
Interviews were then recorded and
transcribed using Nvivo software version
8.

References
American Cancer Society. (2014, March 1). Cancer Facts & Figures 2014. Atlanta,
GA.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, March5). CDC- Fact sheetHealth effects of secondhand smoke- smoking & tobacco use. Retrieved July
25, 2014, from
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data statistics/ fact sheets/ secondhand smoke/he
alth effects/index.htm
Healthy People 2020. (2014). Tobacco. Retrieved from Healthy People. gov
Hefferman, T. M., & ONeil, T.S. (2012). Exposure to secondhand smoke
damages everyday prospective memory. Addiction, 108, 420- 426. doi:
10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04056.x
Jones, L.L., Atkinson, O., Longman, J., Coleman, T., McNeil, A., & Lewis, S.A.
(2011, June). The Motivators and Barriers to a Smoke- Free Home Among
Disadvantaged Caregivers: Identifying the Positive Levers for Change
[Journal]. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 13(6), 479-486.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntr030
Khader, Y.S., AlAkour,N., AlZubi, I.M., & Lataifeh, I. (2011). The association
between secondhand smoke and low birth weight and preterm delivery.
Maternal Child health Journal, 15, 453- 459. doi: 10.1007/s10995-010-0599-2