Pediatric patients' views regarding smoke-free hospital grounds compared to those of adults: A survey study
Leonieke J Breunis1, Maud Versteylen1,2, Márta K Radó2,3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Obstetrics and Foetal Medicine, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Children and adults strongly support smoke-free zones around hospitals. Most children experience secondhand smoke exposure and believe healthcare providers should set a positive example by not smoking.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Children are crucial stakeholders in smoking regulation and secondhand smoke protection but are often overlooked.
- This study investigates opinions on a planned smoke-free zone around a major Dutch university hospital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the perspectives of pediatric patients and other key stakeholders on a proposed outdoor smoke-free zone.
- To assess support for smoke-free policies in healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among pediatric patients, parents, hospital employees, visitors, and adult patients before policy implementation.
- Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- Over 90% of children reported regular secondhand smoke exposure, primarily outdoors.
- A significant majority (89%) of children felt smoking should be prohibited near the hospital.
- High levels of support for the smoke-free zone were found among parents (89%), employees (81%), students (89%), and adult patients (70%).
Conclusions:
- Children generally oppose smoking around hospitals and emphasize the exemplary role of healthcare professionals.
- A substantial majority of adult patients, employees, and visitors support hospital vicinity smoke-free policies.
- Pediatric patients and their parents overwhelmingly support these policies, highlighting the need to involve children in planning and implementation.
Introduction:
Children are important stakeholders in discussions about regulation of smoking and protection from secondhand smoke, but are rarely acknowledged as such. We explored the opinion of pediatric patients and other key stakeholders regarding the planned smoke-free zone around the Erasmus MC, a large university hospital in the Netherlands.
Methods:
In 2019, we conducted a survey among pediatric patients and their parents, Erasmus MC employees, visitors, and adult patients, before implementation of the outdoor smoke-free zone, to assess their opinions on smoking and the planned smoke-free policy. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed mostly using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.
Results:
In all, 91 parent-child dyads and 563 employees, visitors, patients and students filled in the questionnaires. Over 90% of children reported that they were regularly exposed to tobacco smoke, most often on the streets. Many underlined the exemplary role of healthcare providers, and 89% felt that nobody should be allowed to smoke near the hospital. Among parents, 89% were (very) positive towards the planned implementation of the smoke-free zone. In addition, 70% of adult patients, 81% of employees, 65% of visitors, 89% of students and 75% of 'others' were (very) positive about the new smoke-free policy. Smokers and former smokers generally were less positive about the policy.
Conclusions:
Children generally disapproved smoking around a hospital and felt that healthcare providers should be a good example concerning not smoking. The majority of adult patients, employees and visitors support a smoke-free zone surrounding the hospital, and virtually all pediatric patients and their parents do. Children should be acknowledged as important stakeholders in smoke-free policies and should be involved in planning and implementation.
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