Thai community perspectives on suburban smoke-free homes: Qualitative findings from a mixed method study

A smoke-free home is defined as one where people are not allowed to smoke anywhere inside the home. Smoking inside the home leads to second-hand smoke for all household members, a health hazard that needs to be addressed. This study explored the perspectives of community members toward a smoke-free home in a suburb of Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. This paper describes the qualitative descriptive phase of a sequential mixed method study which employed four focus groups interviews with 29 key informants, including community committee members, smokers’ family members, and current smokers. Focus group guidelines centred on understanding second-hand smoke and its effects on family health, how to ban smoking inside homes, and how communities get involved in promoting smoke-free homes. Content analysis was applied for data analysis and the findings on community perspectives on smoke-free home had three categories: 1) negative attitudes toward second-hand smoke inside homes; 2) effect of second-hand smoke on health problems; and 3) feasibility of smoke-free homes. Participants believed it was possible to develop a smoke-free home by setting a community agenda that required participation and coordination among community members, family members, and current smokers.This should entail strengthening family negotiations, setting smoking ban rules, and providing smoking areas outside homes, as well as supporting current smokers to quit. Public health nurses have a role to play in promoting smoke-free homes by their advocating, encouraging, and empowering smokers in reducing or quitting their smoking, as well as providing guidance to their families. In turn this helps to strengthen community action to prevent second-hand smoking and smoking reduction.