Exposing the silent killer
Intervention brings awareness to second-hand smoke exposure in households
Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) is associated with a 20% to 30% increased risk of developing lung cancer. When smokers light up a cigarette, they release at least 250 toxic chemicals into the air, exposing everyone around them to the dangers of smoking.
Alexander Prokhorov, M.D., Ph.D., professor in MD Anderson¡¯s Department of Behavioral Science, is working to prevent smoking and tobacco use in youth and other population groups, including Mexican-Americans. More than 28% of Mexican-Americans are exposed to SHS and smokers subject multigenerational family members to their smoking habits at home.
Results of an intervention study, designed to promote smoke-free indoor air policies in Mexican-American households, were published in the August 2012 edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors. CASA (Clean Air-Safe Air) addressed SHS using two fotonovelas (illustrated storybooks) and a comic book designed for children and adults. Fotonovelas ¡ª a culturally sensitive informational tool ¡ª helped significantly increase awareness of the dangers of smoking to this population group.
