[Reduced passive smoking exposure of children--parental behavior, possibilities for change and determinants]

So far there have been hardly any investigations as to under what conditions parents can avoid or reduce their children's exposure to passive smoking similarly, there has not been much investigation on physician's influence on parental behaviour. In an anonymous questionnaire given to 105 parents (only one parent), one half of the children were constantly exposed to smoke. In households with both parents smoking a very high level of exposure is to be expected due to behaviour and cigarette-consumption. The problem is aggravated by visitors and partners who also smoke. A lack of parents' awareness of passive smoking cannot be regarded as relevant. The main thing that puts a stop to changing this seems to be taking a decision and is also dependent on the amount of cigarette smoke. Only 46% of the participants reported to have been addressed by their physician on this subject. No negative reactions to this intervention on behalf of the physicians were reported in this survey. Instead, talking about it rather made the patient feel he had a bad conscience. Hence, the doctors' concern about a negative reaction does not seem to be justified. Structured intervention strategies which can be introduced in hospitals or in a physician's general practice should be developed and tested.