Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Use

These survey measures are presented here to assist tobacco control researchers in identifying standard questions to utilize in their research. This information is available for any researcher to use, and the original source is listed as a footnote, where applicable. When source is not listed, the item was created by the AAP Richmond Center Measurement Core team.

View these items in a Word document

Note: survey items marked with an asterisk are optional.

  1. Has your child been exposed to smoke within the last 24 hours?c
    • Yes
      If yes, estimate total number of cigarettes: ____________
    • No
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  2. *In thinking about locations away from your child's home, do you and your child ever smell tobacco smoke in any of the following locations?
      Please Check: If yes...
    Do you smell smoke...
    N/A
    Yes
    No
    Not Sure
    Frequency (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Less than Monthly)
    In the
    last 24 hours? (Yes/No)
    In a car or other vehicle
               
    Inside a Friend’s House
               
    Inside Other Parent’s House
    (e.g., shared custody)
               
    Inside a Relative’s House
               
    At a Bus Stop/Cross Walk
               
    Outside a Business or
    Place of Worship
               
    Outside a Public Area
               
    Some other Location (please specify):                                    
               

  3. During the last 7 days, in which of the following places has your child been exposed to secondhand smoke?e
    • At home
    • In a car
    • In someone else's car
    • In an outdoor public place
    • At a relative's house
    • At a friend's house
    • At daycare
    • Other (please specify): _____________
  4. How many people living in this child's home smoke cigarettes, cigars, cigarillo, pipes?d
    • ____________
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  5. NOT including yourself, which of the following people living in your household currently smoke cigarettes?e
    • Your spouse or significant other
    • Your child under age 18
    • Your adult child living in house
    • Other adults in the home
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  6. *How many of your close friends smoke? Would you say:e
    • None
    • Some
    • Most
    • All
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  7. Over the past 3 months, has anyone smoked anywhere inside your home?e
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  8. How often does anyone smoke inside your home?  Would you say:h
    • Daily
    • Weekly
    • Monthly
    • Less than monthly
    • Never
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  9. Please tell me which best describes how cigarette smoking is handled in your home (home includes porches and balconies).e
    • No one is allowed to smoke anywhere
    • Smoking is permitted in some places or at some times
    • Smoking is permitted anywhere
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  10. Please tell me which best describes how cigarette smoking is handled in your car.e
    • No one is allowed to smoke in my car
    • Special guests are allowed to smoke in my car
    • People are allowed to smoke in my car only if the windows are open
    • People are allowed to smoke in my car at any time
    • I have no car
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  11. Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes or the equivalent in your lifetime?i
    • Yes
    • No
      If no, skip items 12-23
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  12. Do you currently smoke cigarettes every day, some days or not at all? (by cigarette, we would like you to include cigarettes, cigars, or cigarillos like black and tans)f
    • Everyday
    • Some days
    • Not at all
    • Prefer not to answer
  13. In the last 30 days, did you smoke every day, some days or not at all?i
    • Everyday
    • Some days
    • Not at all
    • Prefer not to answer
  14. On an average day, about how many cigarettes a day do you currently smoke? (by cigarette, we would like you include cigarettes, cigars, or cigarillos like black and tans)f
    • ____________
    • Don't know
    • Prefer not to answer
  15. *Do you currently use:h
    1. Smokeless tobacco products?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    2. Snus, such as Camel or Marlboro Snus?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    3. Roll-your-own cigarettes?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    4. Flavored cigarettes, such as Camel Crush Clove cigars?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    5. Flavored little cigars?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    6. A hookah or a waterpipe to smoke tobacco?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    7. Dissolvable tobacco products, such as Ariva, Stonewall, Camel orbs, Camel sticks, or Camel strips?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    8. Electronic cigarettes or E-cigarettes, such as Ruyan or NJOY?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
    9. Some other tobacco products not listed here?
      • Yes
        How many times per day or week, on average? ____________ day/week
      • No
  16. *The last time you bought cigarettes for yourself, how many cigarettes did you buy?h
    1. Number: ____________
    2. Unit:
      • Cigarettes
      • Packs
      • Carton
      • Other: ____________
      • Never bought cigarettes
      • Don't know
      • Prefer not to answer
    3. In total, how much money did you pay for this purchase? ____________
  17. *Where do you buy cigarettes? ____________

  18. *During the past 12 months, have you tried to stop smoking?h
    • Yes
    • No
  19. *Have you visited a doctor or other health care provider in the past 12 months?h
    • Yes
    • No
    • If yes, during any visit to a doctor or health care provider in the past 12 months, were you advised to quit smoking tobacco?
      • Yes
      • No
      • Don't know/Don't remember
      • Prefer not to answer
  20. If smoking is allowed INSIDE your home, where does smoking most often occur? (check all that apply)
    • Kitchen/Dining Area
    • Bedroom/Bathroom
    • Basement
    • Living/Family Area
    • I move around inside the house while smoking in order to complete tasks such as cooking, cleaning, etc.
    • Depends on the season; sometimes I smoke inside, sometimes I smoke outside
    • Prefer not to answer
  21. If smoking is allowed OUTSIDE your home on a porch, balcony, or inside a garage where does smoking most often occur? (check all that apply)
    • On a porch or balcony attached to the home
    • In a garage attached to the home
    • In a garage detached from the home
    • Sidewalk or alley within 10ft of an open door or window
    • No smoking is allowed closer to my home than the street sidewalk
    • Prefer not to answer
  22. Where do you smoke when you are at home?d
    • Inside only
    • Inside and outside
    • Outside only
    • Prefer not to answer
  23. *In general, what usually happens when you, friends, or other family want to smoke when children are at home?
    • I/we never smoke when the children are home
    • I/we smoke in another room or floor of my home away from the children
    • I/we step outside when the children are home
    • I/we smoke anywhere that it is convenient inside my home
    • I/we smoke in a location where I/we can keep an eye on the children
    • Prefer not to answer


Sources
a) 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Centers for Disease Control and Prevent Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes2005-2006/nhanes05_06.htm. Accessed February 1, 2012.

b) 2010 National Health Interview Survey. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/quest_data_related_1997_forward.htm. Accessed February 1, 2012.

c) Groner JA, Huang H, Nicholson L, Kuck J, Boettner B, Bauer JA. Secondhand smoke exposure and hair nicotine in children: age dependent differences, Nicotine & Tobacco Research (2011); doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr269

d) Halterman JS, Borrelli B, Tremblay P, et al. Screening for environmental tobacco smoke exposure among inner-city children with asthma. Pediatrics. 2008;122(6):1277-1283.

e) National Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control. The Social Climate of Tobacco Control Web site. http://www.socialclimate.org/. Accessed February 1, 2012.

f) Tanski, S. "Kick Butts Kit" Enrollment Questionnaire.

g) Tanski, S. Messages Study.

h) Tobacco Questions for Surveys: A Subset of Key Questions from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). World Health Organization Web site.
http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/tqs/en/index.html. Accessed February 1, 2012.

i) Wipfli H, Avila-Tang E, Navas-Acien A, et al. Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Women and Children: Evidence From 31 Countries. American Journal of Public Health. 2008/04/01 2008;98(4):672-679.
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