The Evaluation of Maine's Smokefree Car Law Utilizing BRFSS Data

Audience: State and local tobacco control evaluators and program planners will benefit from this poster. 

Key Points: In Maine, 79.8% of adults over age 18 reported a smokefree car rule in 2010. This was a statistically significant increase from 2007 prior to the smokefree car law implementation, when 74.9% of adults reported having a smokefree car rule. The percentage of adults reporting no rule (smoking is allowed anytime inside car) declined from 7.9% in 2007 to 4.0% in 2010. The percentage of adults reporting a smokefree house rule in Maine was 82.9% in 2010. This was a statistically significant increase from 2007, when 79.9% of adults reported having a rule.

Educational Experience: The introduction section will provide a summarized review of the literature. The methods section will cover the specific survey items and the analysis conducted.  The results section will provide a description and figures of the Maine BRFSS data relevant to smokefree cars (e.g. smoking behaviors, car and home rules on smoking, sociodemographic variables). The discussion section will conclude that smokefree car laws may increase voluntary smokefree car policies (even among those who are not required) and increase smokefree home policies.

Benefits: Participants will be informed on how to utilize BRFSS data to assist in the evaluation of smokefree laws and assist in program planning.