Smoking and looked-after children: a mixed-methods study of policy, practice, and perceptions relating to tobacco use in residential units

Huddlestone, Lisa; Pritchard, Catherine; Ratschen, Elena

Abstract

Despite the implementation of smoke-free policies by local authorities and a statutory requirement to promote the health and well-being of looked-after children and young people in England, rates of tobacco use by this population are substantially higher than in the general youth population. A mixed-methods study, comprising a survey of residential care officers in 15 local authority-operated residential units and semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with residential carers in three local authority-operated residential units, was conducted in the East Midlands. Survey data were descriptively analysed; and interview data were transcribed and analysed using thematic framework analysis. Forty-two care officers (18% response rate) completed the survey, and 14 participated in the interviews. Despite reporting substantial awareness of smoke-free policies, a lack of adherence and enforcement became apparent, and levels of reported training in relation to smoking and smoking cessation were low (21%). Potential problems relating to wider tobacco-related harms, such as exploitative relationships; a reliance on tacit knowledge; and pessimistic attitudes towards LAC quitting smoking, were indicated. The findings highlight the need for the development of comprehensive strategies to promote adherence to and enforcement of local smoke-free policy within residential units for looked-after children and young people, and to ensure appropriate support pathways are in place for this population.

Citation

Huddlestone, L., Pritchard, C., & Ratschen, E. (in press). Smoking and looked-after children: a mixed-methods study of policy, practice, and perceptions relating to tobacco use in residential units. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(6), https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13060593

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 7, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 15, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13060593
• Keywords: smoking; smoking cessation; looked-after children; residential care
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/794980
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13060593