Parents’ Risk Perception of Second-hand Smoke in Children Followed Up in Paediatric Consultations at H.U.B Erasme Hospital

Abstract

Introduction
Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) is associated with numerous adverse health effects in children and remains a major public health concern. Analysing parents’ risk perception of SHS can help improve interventions aimed at reducing children’s SHS-related health risks.

Methods
This study was conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire. Participants rated the children’s health risk, on a scale from 1 (no risk) to 7 (high risk), in described situations or photographs depicting an adult smoking in the presence of a child. A risk perception score (RPS) was calculated, with higher scores indicating greater perceived risk. Linear and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with risk perception.

Results
A total of 112 parents or legal guardians who attended paediatric consultations at the Brussels University Hospital (H.U.B) – Erasme Hospital, fully completed the questionnaire. On average, participants perceived a high risk (5/7) to the child’s health (mean RPS = 86.18/119, SD = 19.67). Participants aged 50–65 years (p = 0.01), of Caucasian ethnicity (p = 0.045), smokers (p = 0.042), and those who smoke both indoors and outdoors (p = 0.022) had a significantly lower RPS.

Conclusion
Firstly, parents should be aware that exposure occurs even in the absence of visible or perceptible signs. Secondly, measures aimed at shielding children from the harmful effects of SHS should focus on factors associated with lower risk perception. Finally, paediatricians should be encouraged to take SHS exposure into account when assessing paediatric illnesses.