The Interpersonal Management of Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Home–a Qualitative Study

Abstract

The home is a significant source of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure for many children and, therefore, increasingly a focus of intervention, although evidence of effectiveness remains equivocal. However, little is known about the nature, genesis, and micro-social context of self-imposed restrictions on smoking in the home. In this exploratory study, interviews were conducted in 15 diverse households that had resident children in Toronto, Canada. The results suggest that households cluster into three distinctive groups, from a high degree of restrictions to a lack of consistent measures. Attempts to control ETS exposures in homes often emerge as a result of protracted negotiations and must be understood in the context of situated relationships within the family. Implications for policy and practice, as well as recommendations for future research, are addressed.