Awareness on Second Hand Smoke and How It Affects Health

AWARENESS ON SECOND HAND SMOKE AND HOW IT AFFECTS HEALTH

By:

Manabat, Leandro Mari
Monteverde, Angelo Seigfreid
Paglinawan, Al Mayo Sandino
Pedero, Miguel John
Pile, Kevin Timothy
3LM1

Submitted to:
Prof. Jefferson Aquino

Faculty of Arts and Letters
University of Santo Tomas

Oct. 5, 2011

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to know whether or not the students of the University of Santo Tomas are aware of second hand smoking and how it affects health. Second hand smoking is the involuntary or unconscious inhalation of smoke produced by tobacco products by nonsmokers and it is dangerous to the health. We will conduct a survey from 100 University of Santo Tomas students to find out if they are aware on the subject of second hand smoke, how it affects health, and who are affected.

Contents
List of Tables 4
Chapter I: Background of the Study 5
Statement of the Problem 6
Scope and limitations 6
Hypothesis 6
Definition of Terms 6
Chapter II: Review of Related Literature 8
Chapter III: Methodology 9
Research Design 9
Data Gathering Instruments and Techniques 9
Respondents 9
Statistical Treatment 10
Chapter IV: Presentation of Findings and Analysis 11
Chapter V: Conclusions and Recommendations 25
Conclusion: 25
Recommendation 25
Bibliography 26
About the Authors: 27

List of Tables

Table 1: Do you smoke? 11
Table 2: Do you know someone who smokes? 11
Table 3: Are you bothered with second hand smoke? 12
Table 4: Are you aware of the effects of second hand smoke? 12
Table 5: Who do you think are the most affected by second hand smoke? 13
Table 6: What do you think are the risk health effects secondhand smoke towards children? 13
Table 7: What do you think are the effects on behavior due to exposure to second hand smoke? 14
Table 8: How does smoking affect relationship between parents and their children? 15
Table 9: How does secondhand smoke affect pregnant women? 16
Table 10: Are you aware that Secondhand Smoking includes making platelets stickier, causing inflammation, reducing HDL cholesterol levels, increasing LDL cholesterol levels, and increasing insulin resistance in only a few minutes of exposure? 17
Table 11: Are you aware that even when smoking indoors with windows open or in open air areas, the studies prove that the smoke still reaches other people from a distance and is can be affected by it? 17
Table 12: Where do you reside in? 18
Table 13: In the place where you reside, there are: 19
Table 14: What can you say about your place’s health condition? 19
Table 15: Are you satisfied with the existing policies concerning smoking? 20
Table 16: How would you estimate the success rate of people quitting on smoking? 21
Table 17: Do you Want to Stop/Prevent Second hand Smoking? 21
Table 18: Which of the following would you suggest on how to prevent secondhand smoking? 22
Table 19: We want your opinion. Is there anything else you would like to add to our understanding of the subject of second hand smoking? Add any comments regarding any of the topics from the survey questions. 23

Chapter I: Background of the Study

For years it has been the concern, mainly by the government, how to prevent cigarette smoking. Smoking does not only concern cigarettes but also such other kinds of tobacco products. Smoking as a fact nowadays to be a source of lung diseases; apparently, cigarette manufacturers were mandated by law to include in every pack of cigarette the lines “Government Warning: cigarette smoking can kill”, “Government Warning: cigarette smoking is addictive”, and as we all know, there are also a lot of advertisements which advocate tobacco smoking prevention, or rather, persuasion to stop smoking --- The government has thought of this as an effective yet inexpensive way to prevent smoking. But with the growing number of smokers from time to time, it has been an even greater problem how to prevent smoking from the work place, homes, public places, and of course Private and Public utility vehicles, these factors is just one collective factor we will further undertake in our study. Quitting smoking is not an easy option, because smoking tobacco is as addictive as prohibitive drugs, or it can be easier if a smoker undergoes rehabilitation or therapy which not everyone can afford; and quitting must be taken hand in hand with knowledge of what smoking is, its effects, what are key factors of such, and what totally includes it. As a growing demand of the changing world, health issues arise and smoking became not just about mere smoking but most importantly about secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke has been defined simply as passive smoke, smoke from another source, to make this in full, it must be pointed out that it is comprises the “mainstream smoke” (smoke that the smoker exhales) and the ”sidestream smoke” (smoke from the end of a lighted cigarette, tobacco, and the like). Secondhand smoke may seem to be harmless, but it is actually as dangerous as that of smoking firsthand, but secondhand smoke actually contains thousands of chemicals — from arsenic and ammonia to hydrogen cyanide — many of which have been proven to be toxic or to cause cancer. High concentrations of many of these chemicals are found in secondhand smoke. (The Nemours Foundation, 1995-2011) With recent studies, it has been also defined that secondhand smoking does not just affect a person’s health, but also of his/ her daily performance or physical ability, relation with the person who smokes, sociability, money matters, and many more effects which we would also address as side effects.

Statement of the Problem

Every person nowadays grow to be health conscious beings, tobacco smoking is not the only problem people are facing; be it a fact that there are no safe levels on secondhand smoke, this study attempts to determine effects of secondhand smoke, specifically: 1. Where does secondhand smoke start? Does it start at home? Or in a public place? 2. Who starts or spreads secondhand smoke? 3. When does secondhand smoke begin? 4. What are the social differences brought about smoking and secondhand smoke? 5. How do respondents on the study perceive secondhand smoke?

Scope and limitations

This study was limited only to college students of the University of Santo Tomas during the first semester of the academic year 2011-2012. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire to test the student’s awareness on the effects of Secondhand Smoking.

Hypothesis

Ho – The students are not aware on the effects of Secondhand Smoking. Ha – The students are aware on the effects of Secondhand Smoking.

Definition of Terms

Secondhand Smoke – is the involuntary or unconscious inhalation of smoke produced by tobacco products by nonsmokers. Mainstream Smoke – is the smoke that the smoker exhales. Sidestream Smoke – is the smoke from the end of a lighted cigarette or tobacco. Radiation carcinogenesis – is a stochastic effect which may be present when secondhand smoking; the probability of the effect increases with dose; with no dose threshold, but the severity of the effect is not dose related. Hereditary effects are also stochastic. Nicotine – is the drug in tobacco leaves. Whether someone smokes, chews, or sniffs tobacco, he or she is delivering nicotine to the brain. Each cigarette contains about 10 milligrams of nicotine. Nicotine is what keeps people smoking despite its harmful effects. Chronic Obstructure Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – is characterized by airflow obstruction. The airflow obstruction is usually progressive, not fully reversible and does not change markedly over several months.

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature

One would ask “What are the effects of second hand smoke?” yet one would forget to ask “Where does the second hand smoke come?” from. There are many relatable topics and issues that connect and give justice to the aspect of second hand smoke, so in this chapter it will be made clear those that contribute to this. Smoking has been a problem ever since it has been established that it causes several diseases and ultimately death. People know of the dangers and yet they still continue to smoke leisurely. All the body organs of a human being are affected by smoking and apparently smoking comes to be an addictive act due to the nicotine found in cigarettes or tobacco in general. (Volkow, 2009) One of the body parts most affected by smoking, are the vocal chords. The effects on the vocal chords would be a lack and distraught of the speaking frequencies making smokers voices weaker than the non smoking counterparts. (Gonzales & Carpi, 2004) Aside from body parts, the attempts at pro creating are also afflicted. All the chemicals found in a cigarette will eventually have its effects on women who are pregnant. It is clearly stated how much smoking tobacco can cause lesser births and the shorter life expectancy of an infant, thus making unsure how future generations would survive if the act of smoking is left to be uncontrolled. (Van Meurs, 1999) Seeing how negative it is to smoke tobacco, what more if it is paired together with the consuming of alcohol? Alcohol and tobacco are a very deadly combination, raising the stakes at getting disease. Apparently those who smoke more, tend to consume more alcohol (English, Pugh, Parry, & Scutt, 2001). The act of consuming alcohol has become a norm in today’s society. (Abel & Plumridge, 2003) The act of socializing is now never without the drinking of alcohol. People do so that they may deem themselves part of a community of party people, not knowing that drunkenness may lead to serious physical injuries. (Vladimir & Peden, 2007) Today’s youth seems to be engulfed with the idea of vices. They see it as a rite of passage into adulthood, a form of discovering their identity. Smoking and drinking in particular has caught the young generation’s eye as vices thought of as cool or the “in thing”. Peer pressure causes these to worsen to the point of which friends push friends to try out these vices, leading to addiction. (Urberg, Degirmencioglu, & Pilgrim, 1997)

Chapter III: Methodology

Research Design

This study aims to identify the direct effects of second hand smoke to people especially college students. The researchers pursued the qualitative design of research to deeply understand how the effects of second hand smoke sometimes leads to death, as mentioned in some cases. Dr. Trochim, a Professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University, said that “a key for doing qualitative research is to investigate and become more experienced with a particular phenomenon of the researcher’s interest in order to deliver a detailed description.” The researchers also decided to pursue qualitative style of research to interpret this phenomenon of smoking, especially in the youth sector, despite the smoking ban here in the Philippines. The researchers would use both descriptive and exploratory methods to perform this study. Exploratory method will be used because the research tries to search for data regarding the problems and effects of second hand smoke to college students. Also, the descriptive method will be used because the researchers observe and describe what was observed. And the goal of this study is to describe accurately the effects of second hand smoke based on the data collected. The researchers would also make use of existing literature related to this study to make this study more accurate and precise.

Data Gathering Instruments and Techniques

This study covers University of Santo Tomas students as their respondents. Also, the researchers would make use of survey questionnaire that will be distributed to the said respondents of this study.

Respondents

The respondents of this study are 100 college students of University of Santo Tomas, be it provided that they are males and females from different colleges, faculty, and institute (except students from the Faculty of Arts & Letters and the College of Commerce & Business Administration).

Statistical Treatment

The statistical treatment that the researchers will use to achieve the wanted data is statistics, particularly, SPSS or the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. SPSS or Statistical Package for the Social Sciences will be applied in order to come up with accurate statistical results for this particular study. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) is a package of programs for manipulating, analyzing, and presenting data; the package is widely used in the social and behavioral sciences (Landau and Everitt, 2004).

Chapter IV: Presentation of Findings and Analysis

| | |Table 1: Do you smoke? | | |
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| | | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
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| |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Household pets | | |1 |1 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: 61.6% of the respondents said that the children are the most affected by second hand smoke, and it is followed by pregnant women with 37.4%. Most of the respondents are not aware that household pets are also affected by second hand smoke.

|Table 6: What do you think are the risk health effects secondhand smoke towards children? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Middle ear infection | | |3 |2.7 |
|Increased vulnerability to diseases | | | | | |18 |

Analysis: The top 3 answers by the respondents are asthma (46.9%), followed by pneumonia and bronchitis (31%) and by increased vulnerability to diseases (14.9). We can say that the respondents are well educated on the effects of second hand smoke on children. The respondents have an idea on what might happen on children if they are exposed to second hand smoke.

|Table 7: What do you think are the effects on behavior due to exposure to second hand smoke? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Disobedience | | |12 |11.9 |
|Anxiety | | | | | |55 |

Analysis: 54.5% of the respondents said that anxiety is one of the main effects on behavior due to exposure to second hand smoke; it is followed by hyperkinetic disease (hyperactivity/ ADHD) and by disobedience. It shows here that the respondents are not only aware on the health risks of second hand smoke, but also on the effects of second hand smoke to people’s behavior.

|Table 8: How does smoking affect relationship between parents and their children? |
| |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Family disputes | | |11 |11.2 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: 61.2% said that the effect of smoking in the relationship of parents and children is that the parents might influence their child to also smoke, while 27.6% said that parents may not guide their children properly. We can say here that the respondents are aware that smoking may not only affect the health of smoker, the people who are exposed on second hand smoke, but it can also affect family relationship as well.

|Table 9: How does secondhand smoke affect pregnant women? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Low birth weight | | |6 |5.6 |
|Increased vulnerability to diseases | | | | | |39 |

Analysis: In this table, we can see two top answers, which is increased vulnerability to diseases (36.4%) and increased rate of miscarriage (32.7). Some of the respondents said that it may also lead to sudden infant syndrome. We can conclude that the respondents are aware that pregnant women that are exposed to second hand smoke might not only affect their health but also the child in their womb.

|Table 10: Are you aware that Secondhand Smoking includes making platelets stickier, causing inflammation, reducing HDL |
|cholesterol levels, increasing LDL cholesterol levels, and increasing insulin resistance in only a few minutes of exposure? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Not aware | | |40 |40 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: 40 out of 100 respondents are not aware of the actual effects of second hand smoking in the body. They are informed and educated by only the basic and needed information about second hand smoke.

|Table 11: Are you aware that even when smoking indoors with windows open or in open air areas, the studies prove that the smoke |
|still reaches other people from a distance and is can be affected by it? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|I believe it’s not true | | |5 |5 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: Almost half of the respondents said they are aware and the other half said that they are not aware that they can be still reach from a distance by second hand smoke even if they are in places with open windows or in open air areas.

|Table 12: Where do you reside in? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Condominium | | |13 |13 |
|Others | | | | | |14 |

Analysis: 53 respondents said that they live in a private subdivision. We can see by their place by which they reside in is affected or not much affected by second hand smoke.

|Table 13: In the place where you reside, there are: |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|No smokers at all | | |12 |12 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: 60 out of 100 respondents said that there are a few smokers in their residency. Although they said that there are a few smokers in their place, they can still be affected by second hand smoke.

|Table 14: What can you say about your place’s health condition? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Average | | |47 |47 |
|Bad | | | | | |5 |

Analysis: Most of the respondents said that their place’s health condition is ranging from average to good.

|Table 15: Are you satisfied with the existing policies concerning smoking? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Unsatisfied | | |46 |46 |
|Very unsatisfied | | | | | |14 |

Analysis: 46 out of 100 respondents said that they are unsatisfied with the existing policies concerning smoking. It may also show here the discontent of the respondents on the government’s action to deal with problems of smoking.

|Table 16: How would you estimate the success rate of people quitting on smoking? |
| |
| |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|41-60% | | |16 |16 |
|81-100% | | | | | |2 |

Analysis: 44 out of 100 respondents said that there is only a 1-20% success rate of people quitting on smoking. We can conclude here that since the rate of people quitting on smoking is low, we may still be greatly affected by second hand smoke.

|Table 17: Do you Want to Stop/Prevent Second hand Smoking? |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|I do not wish to partake in any activity whatsoever | | |11 |11 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: 87 out of 100 respondents said that they want to stop or prevent second hand smoking. We can show that they really want to stop or prevent second hand smoking in question number 3, because they are bothered with it and its effect on health, children, and pregnant women.
|Table 18: Which of the following would you suggest on how to prevent secondhand smoking? |
| |
| |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|Encourage people to lessen their cigarette intake | | |25 |21.7 |
|Others | | | | | |1 |
| | | | | | | |

Analysis: 61.7% said that we must have a strict implementation of smoking ban in our country to stop or prevent second hand smoking and its dangers to people’s health.

|Table 19: We want your opinion. Is there anything else you would like to add to our understanding of the subject of second hand smoking? Add |
|any comments regarding any of the topics from the survey questions. |
|Base: All Respondents |Total |Percent |
|Comments | | |
| |100 |100 |
| | | |
|You should also study the reasons/ causes why |3 |3 |
|people smoke | | |
|You should include the policies regarding |3 |3 |
|smoking and their corresponding consequences/ | | |
|punishments. If there are any. | | |
|You should define/ elaborate the sickness that |3 |3 |
|is/are caused by smoking. | | |
|None |80 |80 |
|Above the awareness of people on the increasing|3 |3 |
|population of smokers ages 7-15. | | |
|People that is near to the smoker gets more |3 |3 |
|smoke. | | |
|Smoking kills. |2 |2 |
|Second smokes are more dangerous to other |1 |1 |
|people than to persons who are really smoking. | | |
|What age gap usually smokes or involve |1 |1 |
|themselves in smoking | | |
|To quit smoking, lets enforce strict rules |1 |1 |

Analysis: 80 out of 100 respondents did not give any comments on the subject of second hand smoking. But, other respondents leave their comments to prevent or alleviate our problems in dealing with second hand smoking, to have a better understanding on the topic of second hand smoking, and to define more clearly the health effects of second hand smoking.

Chapter V: Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusion:

We can conclude in this study that majority of the people are aware, informed, and educated on the topic of secondhand smoking. It has been proven in our survey that students are aware of the health effects of second hand smoking, especially in table number 4 wherein 89 out of 100 respondents said that they are aware on the effects of secondhand smoking. They are aware of these effects not only those concerning of their own health, but also to that of children, pregnant women, and even household pets. Not only are they aware, but they are also bothered with the health effects caused by second hand smoking and they want to prevent or to stop it for the welfare of the people.

Recommendation

Our group recommends that our government should pass laws regarding secondhand smoking or a smoking ban and have a strict implementation on it, so that somehow the effects of smoking on people’s health will be lessen. We also recommend having campaigns against secondhand smoking, by these campaigns; we can educate the people on how second hand smoking can greatly affect our health and teach them ways to lessen the effects of it, it can also encourage smokers to stop smoking.

Bibliography

Abel, G., & Plumridge, E. (2003). Network ‘norms’ or ‘styles’ of ‘drunken comportment’? Oxford: Oxford University.

American Cancer Society, Inc. (2011). American Cancer Society. Retrieved september 4, 2011, from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/Toba

English, K. M., Pugh, P. J., Parry, H., & Scutt, N. E. (2001). Effect of cigarette smoking on levels of Healthy Men. Sheffield, New Yorkshire: The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society .

Gonzales, J., & Carpi, A. (2004). Early effects of smoking on the voice:A multidimensional study. Spain: Medical Science Monitor.

The Nemours Foundation. (1995-2011). TeensHealth. Retrieved september 4, 2011, from TeensHealth: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/secondhand_smoke.html

Urberg, K. A., Degirmencioglu, S. M., & Pilgrim, C. (1997). Close Friend and Group Influence on Adolescent Cigarette Smoking. Detroit: Wayne State University.

Van Meurs, K. (1999). Cigarette Smoking, Pregnancy and the Developing Fetus. Palo Alto: Stanford University School of Medicine.

Vladimir, P., & Peden, M. (2007). Alcohol and Injury in Emergency Departments. Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Volkow, N. (2009). Tobacco Addiction. Maryland: National Institute on Drug Abuse.

About the Authors:

Leandro Mari Manabat – Or Leann for short. He is currently taking up Legal Management under the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. He is a guitarist in his band. He dreams of becoming a lawyer in the near future.

Miguel John Pedero – He is currently taking up Legal Management under the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. He is an English-speaking Rocker. He also plays guitar for his band. He sees himself 5 years from now as a lawyer.

Angelo Seigfreid Monteverde – He is currently taking up Legal Management under the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. He is a sacristan in their parish. Loves singing, telling jokes, and making people laugh. He sees himself as a lawyer in the near future.

Kevin Timothy Pile - He is currently taking up Legal Management under the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. He likes playing video games and listening to music. He is a lawyer-in-the-making.

Al Mayo Sandino Paglinawan - He is currently taking up Legal Management under the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. He lives the straightedge lifestyle – a lifestyle that refrains from using alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs. He sees himself as a lawyer in the very near future, and handling cases along side with his father.

Bibliography: Abel, G., & Plumridge, E. (2003). Network ‘norms’ or ‘styles’ of ‘drunken comportment’? Oxford: Oxford University. American Cancer Society, Inc. (2011). American Cancer Society. Retrieved september 4, 2011, from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke: http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/Toba English, K Gonzales, J., & Carpi, A. (2004). Early effects of smoking on the voice:A multidimensional study. Spain: Medical Science Monitor. The Nemours Foundation. (1995-2011). TeensHealth. Retrieved september 4, 2011, from TeensHealth: http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/secondhand_smoke.html Urberg, K Van Meurs, K. (1999). Cigarette Smoking, Pregnancy and the Developing Fetus. Palo Alto: Stanford University School of Medicine. Vladimir, P., & Peden, M. (2007). Alcohol and Injury in Emergency Departments. Switzerland: World Health Organization. Volkow, N. (2009). Tobacco Addiction. Maryland: National Institute on Drug Abuse.