Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke
09:50

Impact Assessment of Repeated Exposure of Organotypic 3D Bronchial and Nasal Tissue Culture Models to Whole Cigarette Smoke

Published on: February 12, 2015

Screening for children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in a pediatric primary care setting

Judith A Groner1, Stacy Hoshaw-Woodard, Gideon Koren

  • 1Sections of Ambulatory Pediatric, Department of Pediatrics, Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine & Public Health, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH, USA. jgroner@chi.osu.edu

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|May 4, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Pediatricians can now use three simple questions to screen for children's environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. This tool accurately predicts high ETS risk, as measured by hair cotinine levels, aiding in early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Environmental Health
  • Biomarkers of Exposure
  • Public Health Interventions

Background:

  • Pediatricians are advised to assess environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in children.
  • Identifying children with high ETS exposure requires effective screening tools.
  • Hair cotinine levels serve as a reliable long-term biomarker for ETS exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a brief screening tool for predicting children's ETS exposure.
  • To correlate screening question responses with objective hair cotinine measurements.
  • To establish a practical method for pediatricians to assess ETS risk.

Main Methods:

  • A convenience sample of 291 children (2 weeks to 3 years) provided hair samples and questionnaire data.
  • Screening questions focused on home ETS exposure were compared against child hair cotinine levels.
  • Statistical analysis identified questions with clinical applicability and significance.

Main Results:

  • Three questions were identified as a valid screening tool: "Does the mother smoke?", "Do others smoke?", and "Do others smoke inside?"
  • This tool accurately predicts children's risk for ETS exposure.
  • Maternal smoking habits outside the home or low daily cigarette consumption did not significantly impact cotinine levels.

Conclusions:

  • A simple, specific, and valid screening tool for pediatric offices to identify children at risk of ETS exposure was developed.
  • The tool aids in identifying children requiring further intervention for ETS exposure.
  • Prospective validation of this screening tool is recommended.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India09:33

Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India

Published on: December 23, 2022

Isolation of Mouse Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Exposure to Experimental Cigarette Smoke at Air Liquid Interface10:47

Isolation of Mouse Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Exposure to Experimental Cigarette Smoke at Air Liquid Interface

Published on: February 21, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Preventive Healthcare Services01:30

Preventive Healthcare Services

Preventive healthcare services keep people healthy via frequent check-ups, screening, and counseling. They primarily aid in disease prevention rather than treating an acute or chronic illness. Preventive treatment also keeps individuals productive and energetic, allowing them to work well into their retirement years. Examples of preventive care services include:
Assessment of Respiration01:23

Assessment of Respiration

The respiratory system's basic structures and primary functions lay the foundation for nurses' comprehensive respiratory assessments. This assessment includes subjective and objective data to gauge the patient's respiratory health.
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD,...
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment01:25

Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment

Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies01:27

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies

Assessing and diagnosing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) involves a detailed approach that includes a comprehensive review of medical history, physical examination, and a variety of diagnostic tests. This thorough evaluation is essential to ensure an accurate diagnosis and guide effective management strategies.
Medical History
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History01:28

Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract I: Health History

Physical assessment of the respiratory tract is critical to patient care. It allows healthcare professionals to identify and manage various respiratory conditions. The process involves a combination of subjective and objective data collection.
Subjective Data
Subjective data provides vital information about the patient's health history and symptoms. This data is typically collected through interviews in which patients describe their experiences, symptoms, and concerns.
Health history and key...