IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v12y2015i7p8092-8102d52606.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Smoke-Free Multiunit Housing Policy: Caretakers’ Perspectives on Economic and Personal Impacts

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel E. Wilbur

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Anna H. Stein

    (North Carolina Division of Public Health, Raleigh, NC 27699, USA)

  • Elena M. Pinzon

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Osub S. Ahmed

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Obie S. McNair

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Kurt M. Ribisl

    (Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

Objective: Multiunit housing (MUH) operators may be motivated to adopt smoke-free policies to achieve cost savings. MUH caretakers provide a unique perspective for understanding the implications of smoke-free policies because of their role in property maintenance. We examine MUH caretakers’ perceptions regarding the economic and personal impact of smoke-free policies at their properties. Methods: We conducted and analyzed qualitative interviews with 20 multiunit housing caretakers from two large property management companies in the southeastern United States that had implemented smoke-free policies. Results: For non-smoking units, caretakers reported shortened turnover times, in addition to reduction in the need for turnover supplies and capital replacements. Caretakers reported an improvement in their work environments due to reduced workload and exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke after implementation of smoke-free policies. Conclusion: The potential for cost savings exists for MUH operators who enact smoke-free policies because of decreased labor, supplies, and capital costs. Smoke-free policies may also improve the work environment of caretakers and other frontline MUH employees. These are important findings for MUH companies seeking to lower their operation costs and improve their employees’ working conditions, as well as for smoke-free advocates seeking to promote policy change.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel E. Wilbur & Anna H. Stein & Elena M. Pinzon & Osub S. Ahmed & Obie S. McNair & Kurt M. Ribisl, 2015. "Smoke-Free Multiunit Housing Policy: Caretakers’ Perspectives on Economic and Personal Impacts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:7:p:8092-8102:d:52606
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/7/8092/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/7/8092/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ong, M.K. & Diamant, A.L. & Zhou, Q. & Park, H.-Y. & Kaplan, R.M., 2012. "Estimates of smoking-related property costs in California multiunit housing," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(3), pages 490-493.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ellen Childs & Alan C. Geller & Daniel R. Brooks & Jessica Davine & John Kane & Robyn Keske & Jodi Anthony & Vaughan W. Rees, "undated". "Assessing Smoke-Free Housing Implementation Approaches to Inform Best Practices: A National Survey of Early-Adopting Public Housing Authorities," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 37433bb303a541e49e786a9f1, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. Ellen Childs & Alan C. Geller & Daniel R. Brooks & Jessica Davine & John Kane & Robyn Keske & Jodi Anthony & Vaughan W. Rees, 2022. "Assessing Smoke-Free Housing Implementation Approaches to Inform Best Practices: A National Survey of Early-Adopting Public Housing Authorities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-15, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:7:p:8092-8102:d:52606. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.