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Knowledge, attitudes and behavior regarding secondhand smoke among Asian Americans
Grace X Ma1, Yin Tan, Carolyn Y Fang
1Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843, USA. grace.ma@temple.edu
Preventive Medicine
|May 27, 2005
Summary
Secondhand smoke exposure is a significant public health issue for Asian Americans, with many experiencing it at home and work. Knowledge and attitudes towards secondhand smoke vary by ethnicity, gender, and education, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a prevalent public health concern.
- Investigates knowledge, attitudes, and tolerance of SHS among diverse Asian American subgroups.
- Focuses on the Delaware Valley region, encompassing Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure secondhand smoke exposure levels.
- To evaluate differences in knowledge, attitudes, and tolerance of SHS.
- To examine these factors among Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Cambodian American subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 1374 Asian Americans.
- Stratified-cluster proportional sampling technique employed.
- Data collected on demographics, smoking status, SHS exposure, and knowledge/attitudes/behavior; analyzed using SPSS.
Main Results:
- High rates of involuntary SHS exposure reported at home (38.3%) and worksites (40.3%).
- Significant differences in knowledge and tolerance observed across ethnic groups, gender, education, and smoking status.
- Knowledge level significantly influenced tolerance behavior regarding SHS.
Conclusions:
- Urgent need for comprehensive smoke-free policies in homes, workplaces, and public areas.
- Tobacco prevention and cessation programs for Asian Americans must highlight SHS health effects and promote smoke-free environments.
- Further research is required to understand ethnic variations in SHS tolerance.