The Invisible Danger: Third-hand Smoke and Families’ Knowledge Levels

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to idenitfy the knowledge levels of families regarding third-hand smoke (THS), which represents the most significant health risk currently, and to raise awareness of the subject. Material and Methods: The ’Beliefs About Third-hand Smoke’ (BATHS) scale was applied to 1016 caregivers. The BATHS scale and sub-factor scale results were compared in terms of participant-related variables such as smoking behaviors, THS awareness and beliefs, and sociodemographic findings. Results: Awareness of the term THS was very low (8.7%). Statistically significantly low smoking habits and high BATHS scale scores were determined among participants who owned their own homes, those with higher levels of education and income, and in non-parent relatives (p<0.001). Parental THS awareness was lower among mothers. Being a university graduate increased awareness 19 times and owning one’s own home 2.6 times. While not smoking at all resulted in a significant increase in BATHS scores, it did not affect THS awareness. Conclusion: Despite the availability of numerous programs and educational material concerning the harm caused by first- and second-hand smoke, levels of information about TSH, a more important but invisible danger, are unfortunately very low in society and among health professionals. It is therefore essential to increase the requisite sensitivity to the issue and to encourage smoke-free society studies.

Keywords

• Awareness
• Exposure
• Tobacco
• Smoke

Görünmez Tehlike: Üçüncü El Sigara Dumanı ve Ailelerin Bilgi Düzeyi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, günümüzde sağlığa yönelik en önemli tehdit olan üçüncü el sigara dumanına (ÜSD) ilişkin ailelerin bilgi düzeylerini tespit etmek ve konuya ilişkin farkındalığı artırmaktı. Gereç ve Yöntemler: ‘Üçüncü El Duman Hakkında İnançlar’ (ÜDHİ) ölçeği 1016 bakım verene uygulanmıştır. ÜDHİ ölçeği ve alt faktör ölçeği sonuçları, sigara içme davranışları, ÜSD farkındalığı ve inançları ve sosyodemografik bulgular gibi katılımcılarla ilgili değişkenler açısından karşılaştırılmıştır. Bulgular: Üçüncü el sigara dumanı terimine ilişkin farkındalık çok düşüktü (%8.7). Kendi evi olanlarda, eğitim ve gelir düzeyi yüksek olanlarda ve ebeveyn olmayan akrabalarda istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde düşük sigara içme alışkanlıkları ve yüksek ÜDHİ ölçek puanları tespit edilmiştir (p<0.001). Ebeveynlerin ÜSD farkındalığı anneler arasında daha düşüktü. Üniversite mezunu olmak farkındalığı 19 kat, kendi evine sahip olmak ise 2.6 kat artırmıştır. Hiç sigara içmemek ÜDHİ puanlarında anlamlı bir artışa neden olurken, ÜSD farkındalığını etkilememiştir. Sonuç: Birinci ve ikinci el dumanın yol açtığı zararlara ilişkin çok sayıda program ve eğitim materyali bulunmasına rağmen, daha önemli ancak görünmez bir tehlike olan ÜSD hakkında bilgi düzeyleri ne yazık ki toplumda ve sağlık çalışanları arasında çok düşüktür. Bu nedenle konuya ilişkin gerekli duyarlılığın artırılması ve dumansız toplum çalışmalarının teşvik edilmesi elzemdir.

Keywords

• Farkındalık
• Maruziyet
• Tütün
• Duman

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