Most Parents Support Testing Children for Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Children can be exposed to tobacco smoke through many venues – in the home, in the car, in child care or from other units in multi-unit housing. The study, “Acceptability of Testing Children for Tobacco Smoke Exposure: A National Parent Survey,” in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online March 21) assessed whether testing children for tobacco smoke as part of a child’s primary care visit is acceptable to parents.

Of 477 parents (smoking and non-smoking), 60 percent think children should be tested for tobacco smoke exposure during pediatric visits. Among parents who smoked, 62 percent agree with testing children during a child’s doctor visit.

Positive test results may help non-smokers advocate for safer environments for their children. Parental smokers may be curious to know whether their efforts to prevent tobacco exposure are working. Such testing, if it were made available, could help promote smoke-free homes and cars, and encourage family members to quit smoking. It might also lead to more rapid adoption of smoke-free multi-unit housing nationwide.