Parental Smoking and E-cigarette Use in Homes and Cars

Pediatrics. 2019 Apr;143(4):e20183249. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3249. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine how smoke-free and vape-free home and car policies differ for parents who are dual users of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), who only smoke cigarettes, or who only use e-cigarettes. To identify factors associated with not having smoke-free or vape-free policies and how often smoke-free advice is offered at pediatric offices.

Methods: Secondary analysis of 2017 parental interview data collected after their children's visit in 5 control practices participating in the Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure trial.

Results: Most dual users had smoke-free home policies, yet fewer had a vape-free home policies (63.8% vs 26.3%; P < .01). Dual users were less likely than cigarette users to have smoke-free car (P < .01), vape-free home (P < .001), or vape-free car (P < .001) policies. Inside cars, dual users were more likely than cigarette users to report smoking (P < .001), e-cigarette use (P < .001), and e-cigarette use with children present (P < .001). Parental characteristics associated with not having smoke-free or vape-free home and car policies include smoking ≥10 cigarettes per day, using e-cigarettes, and having a youngest child >10 years old. Smoke-free home and car advice was infrequently delivered.

Conclusions: Parents may perceive e-cigarette aerosol as safe for children. Dual users more often had smoke-free policies than vape-free policies for the home. Dual users were less likely than cigarette-only smokers to report various child-protective measures inside homes and cars. These findings reveal important opportunities for intervention with parents about smoking and vaping in homes and cars.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01882348.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Automobiles
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Parents*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Smoke-Free Policy*
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking Prevention
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / adverse effects*
  • United States

Substances

  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01882348