Faculty Articles
Support for smoke-free multi-unit housing policies among racially and ethnically diverse, low-income seniors in south florida
Publication Title
Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology
ISSN
0169-3816
Publication Date
10-1-2014
Abstract
Open access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10823-014-9247-4/fulltext.html Previous studies have gauged support for implementing smoke-free MUH policies in the United States, but none have specifically examined attitudes among racially and ethnically diverse seniors living in low-income MUH. As part of an evaluation of a Community Transformation Grant funded program, we surveyed senior residents 62 years of age and older (n = 807) in 24 low-income housing properties in Broward County, Florida, to assess residents’ smoking behaviors, exposure to SHS, and support for smoke-free MUH policies. The study sample was ethnically and racially diverse with Hispanics comprising more than 61% of the population, and 22% of the population identified as Black or other races. Although close to 22% of the sample were former smokers, only 9% of residents reported being current smokers. The majority of residents surveyed supported no-smoking policies: 75% support no-smoking policies for individual units; 77% supported no-smoking policies in common areas; and, 68% supported no-smoking policies in outdoor areas. Over 29% of residents surveyed reported being exposed to secondhand smoke entering their units from elsewhere in their building. In sub-group analysis, Hispanic residents were significantly more likely to support both indoor (84.3 vs. 76.5, p<.05) and outdoor (80.0 vs. 67.4, p<.01) policies compared to non-Hispanic residents. Support for smoke-free policies did not vary significantly by race. This study demonstrates that senior residents living in low-income MUH properties overwhelmingly supported the implementation of smoke-free policies.
DOI
10.1007/s10823-014-9247-4
Volume
29
Issue
4
First Page
404
Last Page
415
Disciplines
Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences | Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathy
NSUWorks Citation
Cook, Nicole J.; Hollar, Theodore L.; Chavez, Summer; Quinn, David; and Phillips, Teina, "Support for smoke-free multi-unit housing policies among racially and ethnically diverse, low-income seniors in south florida" (2014). Faculty Articles. 331.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_com_faculty_articles/331
