276516
Implementation of the city of savannah smoke-free ordinance: Lessons learned
Monday, November 4, 2013
: 4:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.
Kenneth Ray, MPH,
Georgia Health Promotion Disease Prevention Programs, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Omar Guessous, MS,
Georgia Health Promotion Disease Prevention Programs, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Laura Whalen, MPH,
Georgia Health Promotion Disease Prevention Programs, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
About 39% (1.2 million) of adults in Georgia have been exposed to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger heart attacks, particularly in those with underlying cardiovascular conditions. Research has shown that indoor smoke-free ordinances protect citizens from the dangers of second hand smoke exposure, such as lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Effective January 1, 2011, the Savannah Smoke-Free ordinance expanded the 2005 Georgia Smoke-free Air Act to prohibit smoking in all public places and workplaces in the City of Savannah. An evaluation of the smoke-free ordinance was conducted to describe overall reaction to the ordinance, examine ordinance enforcement successes and challenges, and to estimate ordinance impact on (a) customers' likelihood of patronizing a bar or restaurant; (b) smoking behavior; and (c) business outcomes—such as revenue, number and type of customers, and employee health. Lessons learned regarding the ordinance impact on customers, employees, and owners/managers of bars and restaurants will be reviewed and discussed with workshop participants.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the link between secondhand smoke exposure and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Describe one successful approach to passing and implementing a smoke-free ordinance and education campaign in Savannah Georgia.
Identify the evaluation questions, data collection methods, and analysis techniques.
Discuss the findings and lessons learned from the evaluation of Savannah City smoke-free ordinance with a focus on its perception by and impact on bar and restaurant customers, employees, and owners/managers.
Keyword(s): Tobacco Policy, Tobacco Control
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Coastal Health District Manager and worked on the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of the Savannah City local smoke free ordinance. I coordinated the data collection for the presentation that will be made during the 2013 APHA meeting.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
