Addressing smoking in the home in particularly towards children under the age of five years is important to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. It is a Scotland wide priority.

We aim to increase awareness of the effects of secondhand smoke, to protect children from the damaging effects of secondhand smoke and to increase the number of smokefree homes and cars across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. This campaign will include:


1. A training programme that will increase awareness of the effects of secondhand smoke.

2. The development of a leaflet and poster that will support the messages delivered through the training.

3. Evaluation of the training.

4. Linking in with national smoking in the home media campaigns.

The half day training is aimed at health professionals, community workers and volunteers who have direct face to face contact with parents and carers of children under the age of five years and are able to provide follow up. In addition secondhand smoke awareness sessions can also be delivered. For more information see contact details at the bottom of this page.

The half day training programme will include:

• Introduction to NHSGGC Smoking in the Home Programme
• Health impact of secondhand smoking
• Assessing the occurrence of secondhand smoke exposure
• Barriers in raising the issue of secondhand smoking
• Secondhand smoking and Behaviour Change
• Practical guidance in raising the issue of secondhand smoke exposure
• The Five-Point Plan handout which acts as a reminder of the course content when raising the issue of secondhand smoke exposure

Over 500 have attended the training across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The training has been evaluated. The study showed us that if the correct health professionals are trained they are in a better position to raise the issue of secondhand smoke and support changes in behaviour. The main target group for the training are health visitor groups. A copy of the full report is available.

 Evaluation Report

2. Leaflet and poster.

This was developed using parents and carers of children living in Glasgow, a copy of the report is available here. 

 Focus Group Report - Secondhand smoke - 2009 (1.27 MB)


 Secondhand smoke-outer-leaflet 

      Secondhand smoke - leaflet - inner

  

3. Monitoring and evaluation of the training

A monitoring and evaluation framework has been produced for the training. A copy of this is available here.

4. Linking in with national smoking in the home media campaigns

 
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will ensure National campaigns are implemented locally as they arise. 

 5.  Smoking in Cars Campaign

The University of Aberdeen carried out a study for Greater Glasgow and Clyde to measure levels of secondhand smoke in cars where people smoked. The study measured fine particles present in secondhand smoke. These particles go deep into the lungs affecting lung and heart health especially with children. A doll was placed in a car seat with tubing attached to the doll's nose which connected to a monitor. The monitor measured the fine particles present in the car. A fine particulate measurement of 25 and over is considered unhealthy. The study reported that the average level during smoking journeys was 95, more than half of smoking car journeys reported a peak level of over 250 and the highest recorded level was 886. The study also reported that opening windows and having the ventilation on had little effect in bring the particles down to a safe level. The study was repeated in Great Yarmouth, the information for both studies was reported collectively. Information from this was then published in Tobacco Control.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's Study  Glasgow Smoking in Cars


The paper that was submitted to Tobacco Control  Research Paper Smoking in Cars can be viewed online by clicking here.

If you would like further information about secondhand smoke or would like to attend training in your local area please feel free to contact us.

Brenda Friel
Health Improvement Senior (Tobacco Control)
0141 201 4654