A Review of Research by Nurses Regarding Tobacco Dependence and Mental Health

Abstract

The prevalence of tobacco use and dependence among those with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders is exceptionally high, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this review is to discuss the findings conducted by nurses regarding smoking and mental health. A search of the available literature since 1950 resulted in a review of 17 studies authored or coauthored by nurses. Most study designs were descriptive with only one investigator reporting the results of a small clinical trial. In addition to documenting smoking patterns in this population, investigators found that many psychiatric nurses assessed their clients for tobacco use and advised them to stop smoking but few intervened intensively to aid cessation. Psychiatric nurses reported low efficacy for delivering interventions and considerable doubt about their clients' abilities and motivation to stop smoking. Although some desired additional training in tobacco dependence interventions, nurses reported feeling ethically conflicted about, and were inconsistently supportive of, system level interventions such as tobacco free health care settings. It is likely that these findings, as well as the paucity of tobacco dependence studies, reflect the relatively small number of psychiatric nurses conducting research as well as the inattention, until recently, of mental health leaders, policy makers, and funders to the importance of tobacco dependence research in this clinical population. As tobacco dependence treatment for those with mental illnesses and/or addictive disorders becomes more of a public health priority, opportunities abound for nurse researchers to contribute to the growing evidence in this often neglected area.