Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool
Objective Policies and interventions increasingly aim to reduce smoking in outdoor public spaces, but evidence on factors influencing smoking in specific locations remains limited. Systematic observation can unobtrusively assess behaviours in environmental contexts, reducing biases from self-report....
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e105510.full |
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| author | David P French Arbaz Kapadi Jack S Benton Sofia Berg Neil Bendel Julie Jerram |
| author_facet | David P French Arbaz Kapadi Jack S Benton Sofia Berg Neil Bendel Julie Jerram |
| author_sort | David P French |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Policies and interventions increasingly aim to reduce smoking in outdoor public spaces, but evidence on factors influencing smoking in specific locations remains limited. Systematic observation can unobtrusively assess behaviours in environmental contexts, reducing biases from self-report. This study aims to develop and test the reliability and validity of MOSMOKE (Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours): a new tool for assessing the number of people holding or inhaling a cigarette or vape in public spaces.Design MOSMOKE was adapted from a previously validated observation tool for assessing physical activity and well-being behaviours. Following piloting and refinement, inter-rater reliability for assessing smoking, vaping and age group classification was analysed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). A main study assessed criterion-related validity through 32 hours of observations over 4 days. A 2×2 study design was used, with four sites selected that varied by two environmental characteristics: presence of a smoking bin and adjacency to an office block.Setting Four public spaces in Manchester, UK.Results Inter-rater reliability was ‘good’ (ICCs>0.75; n=4) or ‘excellent’ (ICCs>0.90; n=2) for smoking behaviours, and mostly ‘good’ (n=4) or ‘excellent’ (n=1) for vaping behaviours. Observed differences in smoking and vaping behaviours across sites aligned with prespecified hypotheses that smoking would be more prevalent near smoking bins (p=0.02) and office entrances (p=0.006), supporting criterion-related validity.Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence that MOSMOKE is a reliable and valid tool for unobtrusively assessing smoking and vaping in public spaces. It can be used to evaluate policies and interventions targeting smoking or vaping in specific environmental contexts. MOSMOKE is freely available, with a detailed manual to support its use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-361bc29f6f6e47de9052b19e3aab93dd |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-361bc29f6f6e47de9052b19e3aab93dd2025-07-15T03:55:14ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-07-0115710.1136/bmjopen-2025-105510Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation toolDavid P French0Arbaz Kapadi1Jack S Benton2Sofia Berg3Neil Bendel4Julie Jerram5Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKManchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKDepartment of Geography, School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKManchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology & Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKDepartment of Public Health, Manchester City Council, Manchester, UKDepartment of Public Health, Manchester City Council, Manchester, UKObjective Policies and interventions increasingly aim to reduce smoking in outdoor public spaces, but evidence on factors influencing smoking in specific locations remains limited. Systematic observation can unobtrusively assess behaviours in environmental contexts, reducing biases from self-report. This study aims to develop and test the reliability and validity of MOSMOKE (Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours): a new tool for assessing the number of people holding or inhaling a cigarette or vape in public spaces.Design MOSMOKE was adapted from a previously validated observation tool for assessing physical activity and well-being behaviours. Following piloting and refinement, inter-rater reliability for assessing smoking, vaping and age group classification was analysed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). A main study assessed criterion-related validity through 32 hours of observations over 4 days. A 2×2 study design was used, with four sites selected that varied by two environmental characteristics: presence of a smoking bin and adjacency to an office block.Setting Four public spaces in Manchester, UK.Results Inter-rater reliability was ‘good’ (ICCs>0.75; n=4) or ‘excellent’ (ICCs>0.90; n=2) for smoking behaviours, and mostly ‘good’ (n=4) or ‘excellent’ (n=1) for vaping behaviours. Observed differences in smoking and vaping behaviours across sites aligned with prespecified hypotheses that smoking would be more prevalent near smoking bins (p=0.02) and office entrances (p=0.006), supporting criterion-related validity.Conclusions This study provides preliminary evidence that MOSMOKE is a reliable and valid tool for unobtrusively assessing smoking and vaping in public spaces. It can be used to evaluate policies and interventions targeting smoking or vaping in specific environmental contexts. MOSMOKE is freely available, with a detailed manual to support its use.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e105510.full |
| spellingShingle | David P French Arbaz Kapadi Jack S Benton Sofia Berg Neil Bendel Julie Jerram Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool BMJ Open |
| title | Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool |
| title_full | Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool |
| title_fullStr | Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool |
| title_full_unstemmed | Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool |
| title_short | Method for Observing SMOKing and vaping bEhaviours (MOSMOKE): development and validation of a systematic observation tool |
| title_sort | method for observing smoking and vaping behaviours mosmoke development and validation of a systematic observation tool |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e105510.full |
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