INTRODUCTION
Tobacco use, including secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, is the leading cause of preventable premature death globally1. Worldwide almost half of children are regularly exposed to SHS and two-thirds of smokers started smoking before the age of 18 years1,2. Hence, children are important stakeholders in discussions about regulation of smoking and protection from SHS. However, they are rarely acknowledged as such3.
Outdoor smoke-free zones are increasingly implemented to protect people from SHS exposure, to support smoking cessation, and to help denormalize smoking4. In the Netherlands, as of August 2020 educational institutions (including university medical centers) are legally required to ensure that their grounds are smoke-free5. In anticipation of this regulation, the Erasmus MC, including the Sophia Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with a neighboring high school and the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, implemented the first inner-city voluntary smoke-free zone in Rotterdam in September 20196. As part of preparatory actions, we explored the opinion of key stakeholders regarding the planned smoke-free hospital grounds. Because many vulnerable children visit the Sophia Children’s Hospital, we included pediatric patients and their parents in our study. In this article, we report the opinions of all stakeholders with particular focus on those of pediatric patients and their parents.
METHODS
Design
In this cross-sectional study with a mixed methods approach, we surveyed patients, employees and visitors of Erasmus MC to explore their opinion about the planned smoke-free zone. One survey particularly focused on pediatric patients of the Sophia Children’s Hospital and their parents. We extracted both qualitative and quantitative data from the questionnaires.
Setting and participants
From March till April 2019, we approached inpatient and outpatient children aged 4–16 years of the Sophia Children’s Hospital and their parents/caregivers for participation. Pediatric outpatients and their parents were non-selectively approached in hospital waiting areas. Children and parents were excluded if they were unable to answer questions verbally or in writing. Following consent, the questionnaire was immediately filled in. Participating children received a small toy present. We aimed for a convenience sample of 100 parent-child dyads. From February till July 2019, we handed out questionnaires to adults passing through the main hallway of the hospital or visiting outpatient clinics.
Data collection
We developed separate questionnaires for primary school children, high school children, and parents/caregivers. The pediatric questionnaires consisted of thirty questions about personal characteristics, and their opinion regarding smoking, SHS, thirdhand smoke (THS; the chemical residue of tobacco smoke lingering after the cigarette is extinguished7), parents and healthcare providers who smoke, and a smoke-free zone surrounding hospitals. The parental questionnaire consisted of 27 questions about personal characteristics, their knowledge regarding smoking, SHS and THS, and their opinion about a smoke-free zone around the hospital. Furthermore, we assessed whether parents felt that their child’s opinion influenced their smoking behavior.
For questions assessing opinions and beliefs, a fivepoint Likert scale (very negative to very positive) was used. For primary school children, the fivepoint Likert scale was converted to emojis. Before conducting the survey study, the questionnaire was tested with several young children and adapted when needed to enhance comprehensibility. In an attempt to minimize parental influence on their child’s responses and vice versa, parents and children filled in the questionnaires separately. Moreover, if children were unable to read or write, one researcher read the questions to the child and filled in the exact answer given by the child. Parents did not help to answer questions.
The questionnaire for adult patients, employees and visitors consisted of 21 questions related to smoking and a smoke-free policy. In this study, we report on participants’ knowledge on health effects of smoking, and opinion regarding the smoke-free zone.
Data analysis
Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population and their responses. We assessed whether smoking status of the adults (non-smoker/former smoker/current smoker) was associated with their opinion about the smoke-free zone, via ordinal regression adjusted for age and sex. Open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic analysis.
RESULTS
Study population
Ninety-two parent-child dyads filled in the questionnaire. One parent-child dyad was excluded because the child was aged above 16 years; 52% of participating children were primary school children, 56% were female and 90% were outpatient (Supplementary file Table 1). None of the primary school children and 14% of high school children had ever smoked. Over 90% of children reported that they experienced SHS exposure regularly, with most reporting smoke exposure on the streets. Most parents were never-smokers, 24% were former smokers and 15% were current smokers. Of the smoking parents, 14% never smoked near their child and 43% said they would quit smoking if they believed their child was bothered by it.
Table 1
Opinions of pediatric patients concerning a smoke-free hospital a
Opinions on a smoke-free hospital
Opinions were obtained based on the question: ‘What do you think when you see a doctor smoking?’:
‘You are here to cure people, then you cannot smoke.’ (girl, 9 years)
‘Bad for the children she [the doctor] treats.’ (boy, 9 years)
‘I think I do not want that doctor then.’ (girl, 14 years)
‘He [the doctor] does tell me I shouldn't smoke, but he does so [smoking] himself.’ (girl, 12 years)
Among the children, 89% said that nobody should be allowed to smoke around the hospital and many children underlined the exemplary role of healthcare providers in this regard; 90% of the children felt that a medical doctor should not smoke around the hospital, while 64% agreed they should be allowed to smoke at home, for nurses this was 87% and 63%, respectively (Table 1). Of the parents, 49% were sometimes, often or always bothered by smokers near the entrance of the hospital, and 89% were (very) positive towards the planned implementation of the smoke-free zone (Table 2).
Table 2
Opinions of adults concerning a smoke-free hospital a
The questionnaire for adults was filled in by 168 patients, 191 employees, 133 visitors, 35 students, and 36 others (e.g. interpreter, taxi driver); 86% of respondents were sometimes, often or always bothered by smoking near the hospital (Table 2); 70% of patients, 81% of employees, 65% of visitors, 89% of students and 75% of ‘others’ were (very) positive about the planned smoke-free policy (Table 2). Former smokers and current smokers were less likely to support the smoke-free zone (OR=0.547; 95% CI: 0.361–0.828 and OR=0.074; 95% CI: 0.044– 0.123, respectively).
Opinions on smoking
Opinions were obtained based on the question: ‘What is smoking?’:
‘During smoking, smoke comes out of your mouth which is very bad for your health.’ (girl, 8 years)
‘That is bad stuff and that can make you really sick.’ (girl, 10 years)
‘You inhale something that smells.’ (girl, 7 years)
‘A little pipe with all kinds of bad stuff in it.’ (boy, 9 years)
While many children indicated that smoking and SHS are unhealthy (96% and 81%, respectively), only 23% believed that THS is bad for their health. Similarly, among parents more than 95% (strongly) agreed that smoking and SHS are unhealthy, while only 21% (strongly) agreed THS is unhealthy. For adults, this was 92%, 91%, and 46%, respectively. Of the children, 93% felt that smoking was not cool at all and 90% disapproved of smoking by peers.
DISCUSSION
In this study, the vast majority of pediatric patients and their parents supported smoke-free hospital grounds, including most smoking parents and their children. Surveyed children were aware that smoking and SHS are bad for their health, regularly experience smoke exposure, and felt that healthcare providers have an exemplary role not to smoke. Adult patients, visitors, and particularly employees and students, who spend most time around the hospital, were often bothered by smoking in the area. Almost three-quarters of adult patients, employees, visitors, and students supported smoke-free hospital areas, providing grounds for implementation of smoke-free zones surrounding hospitals.
To our knowledge, our study is the first to have evaluated children’s opinions regarding outdoor smoke-free policies around hospitals. This is important as children are important stakeholders in the discussion around implementation of smoke-free areas. Answers to the open questions provide a unique insight and can provide motivation for smokers to quit smoking at places children visit.
The Global Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted in 115 countries in 2000–2006, showed that the majority of children aged 13–15 years supported smoke-free policies in indoor public places8. A survey among youth aged 11–18 years from North Carolina showed that in 2009, 63% of middle school and 54% of high school children supported completely smoke-free outdoor public places9. More recent surveys and group interviews among Dutch adolescents (predominantly aged 15–16 years) showed that they have mixed support for outdoor smoke-free zones, partly based on the impression that individuals have a ‘right to smoke’10. In our study, we also included younger children and focused particularly on hospital areas, which might explain the considerably larger level of support in our study. According to 69% of Dutch adults surveyed in 2019, more smoke-free areas should be implemented, especially in places often visited by children3. We are unaware of any previous studies having assessed children’s or healthcare professionals’ opinions on smoking near hospitals. A previous survey study concerning smoking among Croatian healthcare providers showed that 75% (strongly) agreed to being an example to their patients, and 68% (strongly) agreed to being an example to society in general11. Most children in our study had a negative attitude towards smoking by healthcare providers and underlined that healthcare providers have an exemplary role.
Our study shows that the vast majority of pediatric patients and their parents support a smoke-free hospital, even more so than adult patients, employees and visitors of the hospital. Although many measures to prevent children from initiating smoking and to protect them against SHS exposure are being implemented, the prevalence of SHS exposure in outdoor public places remains high12. Children represent the next generation, and their opinions need to be considered when designing smoke-free policies. They can be actively involved in designing policies and communication approaches for example via co-creation sessions in schools. Furthermore, children’s attitudes could serve as motivator for smokers to comply with smoke-free policies or to quit smoking. For example, earlier work showed that broadcasting children’s opinions near hospital entrances helped reduce smoking in these places13. Although the vast majority of smoking parents in our study smoked near their children, half of them said they would quit smoking if their child was bothered by it.
Additional studies in other geographical areas are needed to substantiate our findings, and should assess children’s opinions on smoke-free outdoor policies in other places frequented by children.
Limitations
Limitations of the study include the relatively small sample size and the single-center approach. Our inclusion of primarily outpatients limits the generalizability to hospitalized children. Because we conducted our research in a tertiary medical center, many hospitalized children were too sick or mentally affected by their illness to fill in the questionnaire. We had planned to assess which factors were associated with support for a smoke-free hospital, but due to the low number of children not supporting a smoke-free hospital, these analyses could not be performed. Moreover, selection bias could have occurred because parents and children having strong feelings about smoking may have been more willing to participate. Due to the setting in which the survey was conducted (i.e. in the hospital) social desirability bias could have occurred.
CONCLUSIONS
Smoke-free hospital grounds are supported by the vast majority of pediatric patients as well as their parents and other stakeholders. Children should be acknowledged as important stakeholders in discussions about smoke-free policies and be involved in decision-making when considering implementing novel policies, particularly in places frequented by children.
