TY - JOUR

T1 - The impact of smokefree legislation in Scotland

T2 - results from the Scottish ITC: Scotland/UK longitudinal surveys

AU - Hyland, Andrew

AU - Hassan, Louise M

AU - Higbee, Cheryl

AU - Boudreau, Christian

AU - Fong, Geoffrey T

AU - Borland, Ron

AU - Cummings, K Michael

AU - Yan, Mi

AU - Thompson, Mary E

AU - Hastings, Gerard

PY - 2009/4

Y1 - 2009/4

N2 - BACKGROUND: To evaluate how Scotland's smokefree law impacted self-reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in hospitality venues, workplaces and in people's homes. In addition, we examine changes in support for the law, pub and restaurant patronage, smoking cessation indicators and whether any observed changes varied by socioeconomic status.METHODS: A quasi-experimental longitudinal telephone survey of nationally representative samples of smokers and non-smokers interviewed before the Scottish law (February to March 2006) and 1 year later after the law (March 2007) in Scotland (n = 705 smokers and n = 417 non-smokers) and the rest of the UK (n = 1027 smokers and n = 447 non-smokers) where smoking in public places was not regulated at the time.RESULTS: Dramatic declines in the observance of smoking in pubs, restaurants and workplaces were found in Scotland relative to the rest of the UK. The change in the percent of smokers reporting a smokefree home and number of cigarettes smoked inside the home in the evening was comparable in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Support for smokefree policies increased to a greater extent in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Self-reported frequency of going to pubs and restaurants was generally comparable between Scotland and the rest of the UK; however, non-smokers in Scotland were more likely to frequent pubs more often. No differences in smoking cessation indicators were observed between countries.CONCLUSION: The Scottish smokefree law has been successful in decreasing secondhand smoke exposure while causing none of the hypothesized negative outcomes.

AB - BACKGROUND: To evaluate how Scotland's smokefree law impacted self-reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in hospitality venues, workplaces and in people's homes. In addition, we examine changes in support for the law, pub and restaurant patronage, smoking cessation indicators and whether any observed changes varied by socioeconomic status.METHODS: A quasi-experimental longitudinal telephone survey of nationally representative samples of smokers and non-smokers interviewed before the Scottish law (February to March 2006) and 1 year later after the law (March 2007) in Scotland (n = 705 smokers and n = 417 non-smokers) and the rest of the UK (n = 1027 smokers and n = 447 non-smokers) where smoking in public places was not regulated at the time.RESULTS: Dramatic declines in the observance of smoking in pubs, restaurants and workplaces were found in Scotland relative to the rest of the UK. The change in the percent of smokers reporting a smokefree home and number of cigarettes smoked inside the home in the evening was comparable in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Support for smokefree policies increased to a greater extent in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Self-reported frequency of going to pubs and restaurants was generally comparable between Scotland and the rest of the UK; however, non-smokers in Scotland were more likely to frequent pubs more often. No differences in smoking cessation indicators were observed between countries.CONCLUSION: The Scottish smokefree law has been successful in decreasing secondhand smoke exposure while causing none of the hypothesized negative outcomes.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Interviews as Topic

KW - Longitudinal Studies

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Program Evaluation

KW - Scotland

KW - Smoking

KW - Tobacco Smoke Pollution

KW - Young Adult

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckn141

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckn141

M3 - Article

C2 - 19151105

VL - 19

SP - 198

EP - 205

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

SN - 1101-1262

IS - 2

ER -