A survey of hospice staff smoking behaviour and their opinions on smoking at work

Abstract

In response to an increased awareness of the dangers of smoking, both active and passive, there has been a growing interest in the introduction of somking policies at work. With this in mind, Marie Curie Cancer Care, a UK charity, has encouraged the introduction of smoking policies in all its centres with the aim of creating healthier working conditions. An approach to the introduction of these policies supported by the Health Education Authority (Jenkins et al., 1987) encouraged the involvement of staff in the process and the use of a questionnaire to survey their smoking behaviour and views on the subject. As a preliminary to introducing a policy in one centre (a 38-bedded hospice unit) the 119 members of staff were surveyed. Results showed that 36% of staff smoked, and more than one-third of these wished to give up. There was an overall agreement that smoking should be restricted, particularly in places where food was served, and that separate areas should be provided for smoking. As an excercise, the survey proved valuable in introducing staff to the concept of a policy, making them feel involved, and supplying the policy-makers with background information.