Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic
Introduction: Extensive regulations have been introduced to reduce secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smokers in Malaysia. However, there is still a need to encourage behavior change of smokers in relation to making homes smoke-free. This feasibility study aimed to use low-cost air pollution...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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European Publishing
2022
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/102150/ |
| _version_ | 1848863728136617984 |
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| author | Zulkifli, Aziemah Abd Rani, Nurul Latiffah Abdul Mutalib, Raisya Nur Syazmeen Dobson, Ruaraidh Engku Ibrahim, Tengku Azmina Abd Latif, Norul Hernani O’Donnell, Rachel Uny, Isabelle Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean |
| author_facet | Zulkifli, Aziemah Abd Rani, Nurul Latiffah Abdul Mutalib, Raisya Nur Syazmeen Dobson, Ruaraidh Engku Ibrahim, Tengku Azmina Abd Latif, Norul Hernani O’Donnell, Rachel Uny, Isabelle Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean |
| author_sort | Zulkifli, Aziemah |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: Extensive regulations have been introduced to reduce secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smokers in Malaysia. However, there is still a need to encourage behavior change of smokers in relation to making homes smoke-free. This feasibility study aimed to use low-cost air pollution monitors to quantify SHS concentrations in Malaysian households and to explore the practicality of using personalized feedback in educating families to make their homes smoke-free. Methods: A total of 35 smokers in three states in Malaysia were recruited via snowball and convenience sampling methods. Indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations in participants' homes were measured for 7 days before and after educational intervention using a pre-defined template, which included personalized air-quality feedback, and information on SHS impacts were given. The feedback was delivered over two 20-minute phone calls or in-person sessions following the completion of the air-quality measurements. Data were corrected for outdoor PM2.5 concentrations from the nearest environmental monitor. Results: Despite the challenges in conducting the project during COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of the intervention was found to be feasible. Twenty-seven (77%) out of 35 participants completed PM2.5 measurements and received a complete intervention. The median (IQR: 25th -75th percentile concentrations) SHS-PM2.5 concentrations at baseline and follow-up were 18.3 µg/m3 (IQR: 13.3-28.3) and 16.2 µg/m3 (IQR: 10.4 - 25.6), respectively. There was a reduction of SHS-PM2.5 concentrations at follow-up measurement in the houses of 17 participants (63%). The change in corrected indoor PM2.5 concentrations between baseline and followup was not statistically significant (Z= -1.01, p=0.29). Conclusions: This educational intervention, combining the use of a low-cost air particle counter with personalized air-quality feedback, was found to be feasible in the Malaysian setting. It has potential to trigger behavior change among smokers, reducing indoor smoking and consequent SHS concentrations, and increasing smoke-free home implementation. A large-scale trial is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:37:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-102150 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:37:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1021502023-08-11T08:35:18Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/102150/ Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic Zulkifli, Aziemah Abd Rani, Nurul Latiffah Abdul Mutalib, Raisya Nur Syazmeen Dobson, Ruaraidh Engku Ibrahim, Tengku Azmina Abd Latif, Norul Hernani O’Donnell, Rachel Uny, Isabelle Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean Introduction: Extensive regulations have been introduced to reduce secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smokers in Malaysia. However, there is still a need to encourage behavior change of smokers in relation to making homes smoke-free. This feasibility study aimed to use low-cost air pollution monitors to quantify SHS concentrations in Malaysian households and to explore the practicality of using personalized feedback in educating families to make their homes smoke-free. Methods: A total of 35 smokers in three states in Malaysia were recruited via snowball and convenience sampling methods. Indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations in participants' homes were measured for 7 days before and after educational intervention using a pre-defined template, which included personalized air-quality feedback, and information on SHS impacts were given. The feedback was delivered over two 20-minute phone calls or in-person sessions following the completion of the air-quality measurements. Data were corrected for outdoor PM2.5 concentrations from the nearest environmental monitor. Results: Despite the challenges in conducting the project during COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of the intervention was found to be feasible. Twenty-seven (77%) out of 35 participants completed PM2.5 measurements and received a complete intervention. The median (IQR: 25th -75th percentile concentrations) SHS-PM2.5 concentrations at baseline and follow-up were 18.3 µg/m3 (IQR: 13.3-28.3) and 16.2 µg/m3 (IQR: 10.4 - 25.6), respectively. There was a reduction of SHS-PM2.5 concentrations at follow-up measurement in the houses of 17 participants (63%). The change in corrected indoor PM2.5 concentrations between baseline and followup was not statistically significant (Z= -1.01, p=0.29). Conclusions: This educational intervention, combining the use of a low-cost air particle counter with personalized air-quality feedback, was found to be feasible in the Malaysian setting. It has potential to trigger behavior change among smokers, reducing indoor smoking and consequent SHS concentrations, and increasing smoke-free home implementation. A large-scale trial is needed. European Publishing 2022 Article PeerReviewed Zulkifli, Aziemah and Abd Rani, Nurul Latiffah and Abdul Mutalib, Raisya Nur Syazmeen and Dobson, Ruaraidh and Engku Ibrahim, Tengku Azmina and Abd Latif, Norul Hernani and O’Donnell, Rachel and Uny, Isabelle and Zainal Abidin, Emilia and Semple, Sean (2022) Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 20. pp. 1-13. ISSN 1617-9625 http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Measuring-secondhand-smoke-in-homes-in-Malaysia-A-nfeasibility-study-comparing-indoor,150338,0,2.html 10.18332/tid/150338 |
| spellingShingle | Zulkifli, Aziemah Abd Rani, Nurul Latiffah Abdul Mutalib, Raisya Nur Syazmeen Dobson, Ruaraidh Engku Ibrahim, Tengku Azmina Abd Latif, Norul Hernani O’Donnell, Rachel Uny, Isabelle Zainal Abidin, Emilia Semple, Sean Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title | Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Measuring secondhand smoke in homes in Malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | measuring secondhand smoke in homes in malaysia: a feasibility study comparing indoor fine particulate (pm2.5) concentrations following an educational feedback intervention to create smoke-free homes during the covid-19 pandemic |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/102150/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/102150/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/102150/ |