Reducing Secondhand Smoke Exposure: Community Education to Reduce Exposure in the Home

Community education to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in the home includes all efforts to increase knowledge and to change attitudes about the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. Techniques include mass media messages, small media messages (including educational materials), and counseling provided outside of health care settings.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force finds insufficient evidence to assess the effectiveness of community education to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke because only one study that had limitations in its design and execution qualified for the review.

Task Force Finding

Results from the Systematic Reviews

One study qualified for the review and it evaluated a randomized trial of home nurse visits to help families reduce infant exposure to secondhand smoke.

These findings were based on a systematic review of all available studies, conducted on behalf of the Task Force by a team of specialists in systematic review methods, and in research, practice and policy related to the tobacco use.

Economic Review

An economic review of this intervention was not conducted because the Task Force found insufficient evidence to determine its effectiveness.

Supporting Materials

• Research gaps
• Included studies

Publications

Hopkins DP, Briss PA, Ricard CJ. Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. [PDF - 6.38MB] Am J Prev Med 2001;20(2S):16–66.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations regarding interventions to reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. [PDF - 1.46KB] Am J Prev Med 2001;20(2S):10–5.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Tobacco. [PDF - 3.63KB] In : Zaza S, Briss PA, Harris KW, eds. The Guide to Community Preventive Services: What Works to Promote Health? Atlanta (GA): Oxford University Press;2005:3-79.

More Community Guide publications about Tobacco Use

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Sample Citation

The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Reducing secondhand smoke exposure: community education to reduce exposure in the home. www.thecommunityguide.org/tobacco/environmental/communityeducation.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: February 2000