PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Sasha Hutchinson AU - Ilse Mesters AU - Onno van Schayck AU - Edward Dompeling TI - Prevention of passive smoking exposure in children at risk for asthma: Results of a pilot study DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p1548 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1548.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1548.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Background: 50% of children worldwide are exposed to second-hand smoking (SHS) or passive smoking, which is difficult to influence. We hypothesised that an effective intervention is possible by means of an individualized tailored program with repeated contacts, motivational interviewing, attention for barriers and needs of parents, and feedback on the children's urine cotinine levels and lung function.Objectives: 1) to assess the prevalence of SHS in children; 2) to study the feasibility of the innovative intervention towards stopping of SHS in children.Methods: 1) 10.000 families with children ≤13 years received a questionnaire about smoking and respiratory symptoms; 2) 11 families were recruited for the pilot study during two months which was given by two trained counsellors and evaluated with a questionnaire.Results: Response rate for the initial questionnaire was 1075 (9.3%). Smoking by 1 or more parents was reported in 244 (22.7%) families, with 142 (58.2%) thereof smoking in the presence of their children at home. Among these exposed children, 56 (41.2%) are at risk for asthma. 11 parents participated in the pilot study. Before the intervention, 6 (54.5%) parents fully agreed that stopping SHS exposure to their children is of great importance, 2 (33.3%) reported that it would be easy to accomplish. Already after two counselling sessions, 10 (90.9%) parents were planning to stop SHS exposure to their children.Conclusion: These results show that SHS exposure in children is still an important problem in our society. The pilot study demonstrates good feasibility of the new intervention program. The intervention will be further tested in a one year follow-up randomised control trial.