Grant: Operating Grant: Population Health Intervention Research

Laws restricting smoking in the public places protect the population from exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) but many children remain exposed to SHS in family homes and in cars. In Quebec, the Ministry of Health and Social Services is poised to introduce new legislation that will prohibit smoking in cars carrying children less than 16 years old. The proposed research aims to assess the effects of this legislation and whether or not the effects are differential across high and low income areas. The specific objectives are: 1) to describe level of awareness in the general population about the smoke-free legislation, as well as perceptions about the enforcement; 2) to describe changes in smoking in cars after implementation of smoke-free legislation; 3) to describe changes in tobacco consumption among adults, locations where adults smoke, and tobacco restrictions adopted in cars and at home after implementation of car smoke-free legislation. Three studies will be conducted. Study 1 will compare the proportion of cars in which a child is exposed to SHS before and after legislation comes into force. Unobtrusive observations of cars will take place at selected street intersections in deprived and non-deprived areas in Montreal. In study 2 telephone surveys will be conducted across the province before and after legislation entry into force with daily smokers who travel in cars with children <16 to assess awareness of legislation and perception about measures taken to enforce the law, as well as tobacco use and smoking restrictions. In study 3 in-depth interviews will be conducted after legislation implementation with adult daily smokers to gain insight into smokers' adaptation to the legislation. This research will inform decision makers about the anticipated and unanticipated population health effects associated with a car smoke-free legislation.