Air pollution, tobacco smoke and vaping — formative SAQs

SAQ 1 (10 marks)

Parents of a 3-year-old with recurrent wheeze say they only smoke outside and in the car. The child is currently well. ^[3]

1. List four paediatric health outcomes linked to second-hand smoke exposure. (2) ^{[3] [4]}
2. Explain third-hand smoke in one sentence and why toddlers are vulnerable. (2) ^[1]
3. Outline your counselling and management plan for the next month, including what you will not claim. (6) ^{[1] [4]}

Model answer

Outcomes: lower respiratory illness, worse asthma control/exacerbations, otitis media, reduced lung growth trajectories, and SIDS-associated risk pathways (any four). ^{[3] [4]}

Third-hand smoke is residual tobacco contamination on surfaces, dust and fabrics that can re-emit or be mouthed; toddlers’ floor play and hand-to-mouth behaviour increase dose. ^[1]

Plan: non-judgemental history of all products and places; negotiate fully smoke-free home and car; explain outdoor-only smoking is incomplete; offer adult cessation referral/quitline; optimise asthma plan naming smoke as a trigger; follow-up. Do not claim e-cigarettes or scented candles make indoor smoking safe, and do not shame so hard that disclosure stops. ^{[1] [4]}