SMOKE & VAPE FREE BYLAW FEEDBACK DATA ANALYSIS

Transcription

1 SMOKE & VAPE FREE BYLAW FEEDBACK DATA ANALYSIS

2 Smoke and Vape Free Bylaw Feedback Survey Data Analysis A. Background: In September 2015, the City of Prince George launched an online survey to gather feedback about a proposed Smoke and Vape Free Bylaw. Communications staff promoted the survey with media releases, social media (Facebook) posts, a linked logo on the City s homepage, and references in the weekly City Matters newspaper advertisement. To augment promotional efforts, members of the Smoke and Vape Free Places Bylaw Steering Committee committed time and resources to enable significant community outreach. Outreach initiatives, focused on encouraging completion of the online survey, included: attendance at the Active Living Market; attendance at a Cougars game; door to door visits in the Downtown Business District; personal telephone calls to businesses with outdoor patios; participation in Talktober neighbourhood conversations; collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Prince George to advise members of the proposed bylaw and accompanying feedback survey and; targeted s to organizations using City facilities (events booked in City parks, field users, exclusive users). Promotion and outreach efforts elicited 584 responses to the online survey. Survey Monkey only allows the survey to be taken once from the same device. Access to the survey closed on November 23, B. Survey Questions: City of Prince George Proposed Smoke & Vape Free Places Bylaw Survey 1. What do you like about the proposed bylaw? 2. How could the proposed bylaw be improved? 3. How might we better inform you and other City residents about the proposed bylaw? 4. Did you know the proposed bylaw includes restrictions on the use of both tobacco and ecigarettes/vapourizers? Yes No 5. Did you know that the Province of BC has introduced amendments to the BC Tobacco Control Act banning the sale of e cigarettes in public buildings and their use on public and private school grounds as well as in indoor public spaces and workplaces? Yes No 6. Are you in favour of the inclusion of e cigarette/vaping restrictions in the proposed City bylaw? Yes No Unsure 7. I am a (check all that apply): 1

3 Business owner in the hospitality industry Business owner in an industry not related to hospitality Employee in the hospitality industry Employee in an industry not related to hospitality Other (please specify) 8. I am a resident of Prince George. Yes No 9. I am a smoker. Yes No 10. I use e cigarettes (or a similar vapour delivering device). Yes No 11. (Optional) What is your age? 18 or younger Please provide any additional comments C. Data Analysis Methodology: Survey responses were analyzed using a multi step methodology led by Dr. Theresa Healy, a qualitative data analysis specialist. November 19, 2015 Step One: Fourth year UNBC practicum students working with Northern Health s (NH) Tobacco Reduction Lead, were asked to review and theme survey responses to qualitative survey questions 1, 2, 3 and 12. For questions 1, 2, and 12 students also assigned a quantitative code (S= Support, O= Oppose, or Q = Unsure) to the qualitative responses. To increase the credibility and validity of identified themes, this information was utilized for data triangulation 1 purposes and accordingly, was shared at the conclusion of the December 4, 2015 session. December 4, 2015 Step Two: Four members of the Smoke & Vape Free Steering Committee were joined by two, fourth year nursing students from UNBC (also completing a practicum with NH s Tobacco Reduction Lead) to review and theme qualitative data. Teams worked cooperatively to identify broad themes across questions 1, 2, and 12 that were supported with powerful respondent quotes. Themes were noted on flip charts and associated quotes were affixed with non permanent glue tape to allow revision as the analysis process progressed. 1 In social research, the term triangulation is used to refer to the observation of the research issue from (at least) two different points. Triangulation methods help to give a more detailed and balanced view of the data. 2

4 Step Three: The facilitator reviewed proposed themes and posed questions to assist with the identification of additional, revised, or combined themes. Step Four: Analysts visited all theme stations for discussion, revision, and consolidation as necessary. Step Five: Four main themes and associated sub themes were identified. Examples of associated comments provided by survey respondents are provided. 1. SUPPORT PROPOSED BYLAW a. Expand Restrictions: I would prefer it if smoking outside of all businesses was limited to within 25 metres. The smokers outside of our office building are way too close to the door. b. Health Protection/Promotion: It helps protect the health of children and adult nonsmokers. c. Multiple Benefits: Further restrictions could benefit those trying to quit. 2. EXCLUDE VAPING a. Address Smoking, Not Vaping: I agree that smoking should be restricted in all public places etc., but vaping should not be as there are no harmful effects or second hand affects from vaping. b. Enables Smoking Cessation: I quit smoking cigarettes over a year ago by switching to e cigarettes and I feel more healthy than ever. It s had a positive impact on my life. E cigarettes provide a great quit smoking method with options to decrease over time effectively like the patch. It rarely bothers people around me and the vaper dissipates in seconds. It doesn t have a smell that clings to clothing. It s the best thing to ever happen to this ex smoker and to clump it with cigarettes is a horrible idea. 3. OPPOSE PROPOSED BYLAW a. Focus on Other Priorities: Focus staff time on issues that really impact people s health, like crumbling sidewalks. b. Infringes on Rights: I like the idea that the City is concerned about public health however they seem to have adopted this over freedom of choice. c. Smokers Unfairly Targeted: As a smoker I m tired of being treated like a 3 rd class citizen. I don t throw my butts on the ground and am very aware of people around me. When the air is polluted by industry, diesel fuels and people bathing in their perfumes and colognes then you can t worry about the minuscule amount of tobacco smoke in the air. 4. ENFORCEMENT a. Practicality/Difficulty: Restricting smoking in outdoor spaces is a bylaw that will be hard to enforce. b. Current Enforcement Not Adequate/Working: Unsure if an additional bylaw will be effective because the current one isn t properly enforced anyway. c. Recommendations to Improve Enforcement: At the beginning proceed slowly with enforcement, encourage cooperation from the offender. But the City must be willing to 3

5 enforce the bylaw eventually. Right now the Provincial bylaw, including Work Safe, no smoking within 9 metres of entrance is on the books but not being enforced. The smokers know that and some get confrontational when challenged. As a private citizen I have no recourse, but to back down in order to avoid escalating the conflict. D. Data Analysis Validation: 1. Themes identified during the group analysis were compared to those identified by students. Group Analysis Themes Match Student Themes Expand Restrictions Severity (+) of Bylaw Restrictions Health Protection/Promotion Protection of Vulnerable Populations Multiple Benefits Discourages Initiation and/or Promotes Cessation Rights of Non Smokers to a Smoke Free Environment Address Smoking, Not Vaping Distinction Between Smoking/Vaping Vaping Enables Smoking Cessation Focus on Other Priorities Priority Allocation of Limited Government Resources Infringes on Rights Individual Liberty/Right to Non Interference Smokers Unfairly Targeted Enforcement Not Practical/Difficult Proposed/Existing Bylaws will/are Not Being Enforced Current Enforcement Not Adequate Recommendations for Enforcement Normalization of Smoking/Vaping 2. A panel of three reviewed qualitative responses to questions 1, 2, and 12 and assigned a quantitative code to each comment: S=Support; O=Oppose; Q=Question. These quantitative results were compared with those provided by students as part of their November 19 assignment. Question 1 What do you like about the proposed bylaw? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Students Panelist 1 Panelist 2 Panleist 3 Undecided Oppose Support 4

6 Students Panel Member 1 Panel Member 2 Panel Member 3 Support=348 (65%) Support=351 (66%) Support=352 (66%) Support=348 (65%) Oppose=160 (30%) Oppose=159 (30%) Oppose=157 (30%) Oppose=161 (30%) Undecided=27(5%) Undecided=22 (4%) Undecided=22 (4%) Undecided=26 (5%) Question 2 How could the proposed bylaw be improved? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Students Panelist 1 Panelist 2 Panelist 3 Undecided Oppose Support Students Panel Member 1 Panel Member 2 Panel Member 3 Support= 117 (25%) Support=249(51%) Support = 232(49%) Oppose= 155 (32%) Oppose=169(35%) Oppose =170 (35%) Undecided= 205 (43%) Undecided=67(14%) Undecided=75 (16%) Question 12 Please provide additional comments. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Students Panelist 1 Panelist 2 Panelist 3 Undecided Oppose Support 5

7 Students Panel Member 1 Panel Member 2 Panel Member 3 Support= Support=98 (34%) Support=91(31%) Oppose= Oppose=149 (51%) Oppose=154(53%) Undecided= Undecided=44 (15%) Undecided=45(16%) E. Analysis of Quantitative Questions: Q4 Did you know the proposed bylaw includes restrictions on the use of both tobacco and e cigarettes/vapourizers? Yes: % No: % Q5 Did you know that the Province of BC has introduced amendments to the BC Tobacco Control Act banning the sale of e cigarettes in public buildings and their use on public and private school grounds as well as in indoor public spaces and workplaces? Yes: % No: % Q6 Are you in favour of the inclusion of e cigarette/vaping restrictions in the proposed City bylaw? Yes: % No: % Unsure: % Q7 I am a (check all that apply): Business owner in the hospitality industry % Business owner in an industry not related to hospitality % Employee in the hospitality industry % Employee in an industry not related to hospitality % Other % Q8 I am a resident of Prince George. Yes % No % Q9 I am a smoker. Yes % No % 6

8 Q10 I use e cigarettes (or a similar vapour delivering device). Yes % No % Q11 (Optional) What is your age? Age Number of Responses Percentage 18 or younger 2.36% % % % % % % 7