Correlates of secondhand tobacco smoke exposure among persons with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) accessing community mental health services

To examine the correlates of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure in a sample of individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) accessing community mental health services. Cross-sectional data were collected from a voluntary sample of 788 individuals with SPMI. Nonsmokers were more likely to be exposed on the street or at a bus stop, in a park or public place; whereas smokers were more likely to report SHS exposure where they lived and at their friend's homes. In a multivariate model, only number of acquaintances who smoked and the number of sources of SHS exposure remained significantly associated with perceived frequency of SHS exposure when accounting for other correlates. There is a need for the enactment and enforcement of policies to curtail SHS exposure in outdoor, public, settings. Future research will be necessary to better understand the extent and impact of SHS exposure in this population.