Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on February 17, 2006
Journal of Public Health 2006 28(1):24-30; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdi080
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Legislation on smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland: how will we evaluate the impact?
Sally J. Haw
Sally J. Haw, Senior Public Health Advisor, NHS Health Scotland, Rosebery House, Haymarket Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ, UK
Laurence Gruer
Laurence Gruer, Director of Public Health Science, OBE, NHS Health Scotland, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LS, UK
Amanda Amos
Amanda Amos, Reader in Health Promotion, Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
Candace Currie
Candace Currie, Director of the Child & Adolescent Health Research Unit, The University of Edinburgh, St Leonard’s Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AQ, UK
Colin Fischbacher
Colin Fischbacher, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland, Gyle Square, Edinburgh EH12 9EB, UK
Geoffrey T. Fong
Geoffrey T. Fong, Associate Professor of Applied & Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 Canada
Gerard Hastings
Gerard Hastings, Director of Cancer Research UK Centre for Tobacco Control, University of Stirling and the Open University, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
Sally Malam
Sally Malam, Senior Associate Director, BMRB, Ealing Gateway, 26-30 Uxbridge Road, London W5 2BP, UK
Jill Pell
Jill Pell, Professor of Epidemiology, BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
Calum Scott
Calum Scott, Health Economist, Scottish Executive, St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG, UK
Sean Semple
Sean Semple, Lecturer, Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZP, UK
Address correspondence to Sally J. Haw. Email: sally.haw{at}health.scot.nhs.uk
Background From 26 March 2006, smoking will be prohibited in wholly and substantially enclosed public places in Scotland, and it will be an offence to permit smoking or to smoke in no-smoking premises. We anticipate that implementation of the smoke-free legislation will result in significant health gains associated with reductions in exposure to both environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and personal tobacco consumption as well as other social and economic impacts.
Methods Health Scotland in conjunction with the Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland and the Scottish Executive have developed a comprehensive evaluation strategy to assess the expected short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes. Using routine health, behavioural and economic data and commissioned research, we will assess the impact of the smoke-free legislation in eight key outcome areas – knowledge and attitudes, ETS exposure, compliance, culture, smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption, tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, economic impacts on the hospitality sector and health inequalities.
Conclusion The findings from this evaluation will make a significant contribution to the international understanding of the health effects of exposure to ETS and the broader social, cultural and economic impacts of smoke-free legislation.
Keywords: air pollution, public health, tobacco