Pediatric observation as an opportunity for parental smoking cessation

INTRODUCTION Children's exposure to parental tobacco smoke is a public health concern. Guiding parents towards smoking cessation plays a key role in protecting the child's health. This study aims to evaluate parents' smoking habits and their availability for a smoking cessation intervention in the context of a pediatric consultation or hospitalization.METHODS This was a prospective study conducted between January 2020 and October 2021 in a level two hospital in the central region of Portugal. Parents of all children hospitalized or seen in a pediatric consultation unit during this period were approached consecutively and fulfilled an anonymous survey about their smoking habits, nicotine dependence and motivation to quit smoking.RESULTS A total of 133 questionnaires were evaluated, 39 from hospitalization and 94 from consultation. Smoking exposure was 39.8% in the study sample. Among smoking parents, 57% of parents at inpatient and 23% at outpatient consultation were probably in the preparation phase for smoking cessation.CONCLUSIONS Pediatric hospitalization and outpatient consultation may be excellent opportunities for the implementation of measures to raise awareness and intervene in parental smoking cessation.