The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoke-free environment polices throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia at worksites employing fifty or more workers. Specifically, this study assessed policy prevalence, development, implementation, and enforcement. In addition, this study assessed smoke-free environment policy effectiveness. The population for this investigation consisted of telephone surveys of 374 worksites located throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Of these worksites, 340 (91%) completed the telephone survey. The population (n = 340) was spread throughout five health regions, Northern, Northwest, Central, Southwest, and East. Descriptive analysis and One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were applied to investigate differences between these five health regions. An alpha of .05 was selected for this study. Based on the findings, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) Fifty-percent of the worksites located throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia have some form of smoke-free environment policies; (2) The smoke-free environment policy constructs used in the telephone survey guide were statistically significant in identifying differences between the five health regions; (3) Smoke-free environment policies at the worksite are dependent upon health region; (4) Implementation of smoke-free environment policies is dependent upon health region; (5) Enforcement of smoke-free environment policies is dependent upon health region, and (6) Effectiveness of smoke-free environment policies is dependent upon health region. The following recommendations were suggested: (1) Further studies assessing smoke-free environment policy enforcement should be conducted annually; (2) Studies incorporating a qualitative research methodology regarding smoke-free environment policy prevalence should be conducted; (3) Studies involving common smoke-free environment policies at different states should be investigated, and (4) Additional in-depth surveys should be conducted to evaluate health outcomes associated with the implementation of smoke-free environment policies. / Ph. D.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been well established as a danger to children. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause coughing and wheezing, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Childhood exposure to ETS may also increase the risk of developing leukemia and lymphoma in childhood (Mitchell, 1997) as well as developing lung cancer as an adult (Glantz, 1992). Despite the great strides recently made in the implementation of regulatory measures to safeguard children from ETS in public places like schools, there remains significant concern regarding children's exposure at home and in their out-of-home care facilities (Ashley and Ferrence, 1998, Jarvis, 2000). In 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that there were 336,749 Virginia youth exposed to ETS in the home (State Tobacco Control Highlights, 1999). The purpose of this study was to ascertain the number of family day home providers who allow smoking in their home and/or those that have some type of smoking policy. The sample consisted of 746 licensed, registered or locally approved family day home providers through the Department of Social Services. Of these childcare providers, 81.5% (n=608) completed a questionnaire about their tobacco use policy and its effects. An overwhelming majority (94.7%) of providers reported having a tobacco use policy in their family day home. Most of the providers, 67.6% indicated that smoking was allowed outdoors only while 26.3% noted that smoking was not allowed anywhere at any time, indoor or outdoor. Other policy specifics and background information are discussed in the study. The implications of these findings and recommendations for future training and educational programs for family day home providers are also reviewed. / Master of Science

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Within the last few decades, the prevalence of cigarette smoking has decreased because of the vast amount of research which indicates that smoking leads to health problems many of which are potentially fatal. Also, smoking harms not only those whom choose to smoke but non-smokers in the area are affected by even low levels of cigarette smoke. Thus, cigarette smoking has become a public health concern. Around the globe, countries are passing smoke-free laws in public areas such as businesses, restaurants, and bars. In the United States, many universities have enacted smoke-free campus policies to ensure the health of all their students in all places on campus. The purpose of this research is to identify the support or opposition for a smoke-free campus policy at the University of Central Florida by UCF students. A survey was distributed to undergraduate students at UCF which asks whether they would support such a policy along with characterizing questions about their smoking habits, lifestyle, history, and opinion. The analysis of the data shows that the majority of UCF student would support a smoke-free campus policy.

Diploma thesis "Assesement of effects of antismoking policy focused on children and teenagers" deals with the problem of young smokers, whose numbers are not significantly decreasing in the Czech republic despite broad range of measures taken in recent years. Efficiency and funcionality of those measures leading to the protection of children and health promotion as well as the proposed solutions of battle against tobacco companies' marketing are evaluated. Czech republic legislation and its effects on children's cigarette consumption is therefor analyzed. Moreover, possible solutions in form of WHO's proposals are introduced.