Quantifying littered cigarette butts to measure effectiveness of smoking bans to building perimeters.

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Muhsin Michael Orsini, AP Assistant Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Program (Creator)
Christopher M. Seitz (Creator)
Robert W. Strack, Associate Professor and Department Head (Creator)
David L. Wyrick, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Objective: The authors estimated the number of violations of a university policy that prohibited smoking within 25 ft of all campus buildings. Participants: The project was conducted by 13 student researchers from the university and a member of the local public health department. Methods: Students quantified cigarette butts that were littered in a 30-day period inside the prohibited smoking area of 7 campus buildings (large residential hall, small residential hall, administrative building, 2 academic buildings, campus cafeteria, and student union). Results: Investigators found a total of 7,861 cigarette butts (large residential hall: 1,198; small residential hall: 344; administrative building: 107; 2 academic buildings: 1,123 and 806; campus cafeteria: 2,651; and student union: 1,632). Conclusions: Findings suggest that there is low compliance with the university's smoking policy. The described project may be repeated by students at other universities as a method to advocate for policy change.

Additional Information

Publication
Language: English
Date: 2012
Keywords
administration, community health, health education, smoking ban, public health, cigarette smoking

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