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Testing an Empowerment Intervention to Help Parents Make Homes Smoke-free: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to test if parents’ participation in an intervention based on an empowerment ideology and participatory experiences decreased the number of cigarettes smoked in homes. Sixty families were randomized to the intervention (n = 30) or control (n = 30) group. The intervention included three weekly group sessions followed by three weekly follow-up telephone calls over six consecutive weeks. During group sessions, parents shared experiences about environmental tobacco smoke, identified personal strengths and resources, and developed action plans. Data were collected in interviewer-administered questionnaires at baseline and 6 months follow-up. Ninety-three percent of the sample consisted of mothers, 77% of whom smoked during pregnancy. Forty-two percent of the total sample reported a household income of <$15,000. The median number of cigarettes smoked in the home daily decreased from 18 to 4 in the total sample however no statistically significant difference was detected between groups at 6 months follow-up. Participation in the study, independent of group, may have resulted in parents decreasing the number of cigarettes smoked in the home. Valuable lessons were learned about recruiting and working with this group of parents, all of whom faced the challenges of tobacco and almost half of whom lived in poverty.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, C1A4P3, Canada

    Rosemary J. Herbert

  2. School of Nursing & Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Anita J. Gagnon

  3. Social and Preventive Medicine, CRCHUM, INSPQ, Canada Research Chair in the Early Determinants of Adult Chronic Disease, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Jennifer L. O’Loughlin

  4. The Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre, School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Janet E. Rennick

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  1. Rosemary J. Herbert
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  2. Anita J. Gagnon
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  3. Jennifer L. O’Loughlin
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  4. Janet E. Rennick
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Correspondence to Rosemary J. Herbert.

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Herbert, R.J., Gagnon, A.J., O’Loughlin, J.L. et al. Testing an Empowerment Intervention to Help Parents Make Homes Smoke-free: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Community Health 36, 650–657 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9356-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9356-8

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