Huddlestone, Lisa orcid.org/0000-0002-8054-4475, Pritchard, Catherine and Ratschen, Elena orcid.org/0000-0003-4128-9608 (2016) 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. 593. ISSN 1660-4601
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.
Metadata
Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | Looked-after children, Residential care, Smoking, Smoking cessation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Health Sciences (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 26 Apr 2017 11:00 |
Last Modified: | 06 Dec 2023 11:49 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13060593 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13060593 |
Related URLs: |
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Filename: ijerph_13_00593_v3.pdf
Description: Smoking and Looked-After Children: A Mixed-Methods Study of Policy, Practice, and Perceptions Relating to Tobacco Use in Residential Units
Licence: CC-BY 2.5