Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate smoking prevalence and the degree of nicotine dependence in our hospital healthcare workers. This study was conducted between January 2008 and June 2008 in our hospital (Medical Facility of Atatürk University). A total of 691 (370 females, 321 males) subjects were included in this study. A questionnaire, including demographic findings, tobacco consumption information and the Fagerström nicotine dependence test, was distributed to healthcare workers and collected. The questionnaire was answered by 691 health workers, 46.5% of whom were male, and 53.5% of whom were female. Overall, the rate of smoking was 36.9%; 48% of males and 27.6% of females were current smokers. When classified according to clinic, the greatest rate of smoking was in the psychiatry clinic (60.0%), and the lowest rate of smoking was in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) Clinic (0.0%). Thirty-four percent of nurses, 18.7% of doctors, 45.5% of officers, and 50.4% of ancillary staff were smokers. According to education level, 50% of the cases (smokers) graduated from primary school, 45% of the cases graduated from high school and 26.9% of the cases graduated from university. The major reason for the initiation of smoking was attention-seeking behavior. The age at smoking initiation was 7 to 20 years in 83.9% of cases and 21 to 35 years in the remaining 16.1%. Thirty-five percent of smokers had very low levels of dependence, while 11.9% had very high levels dependence. Ninety-two percent of cases indicated they would prefer to work at a smoke-free hospital. Ninety-five percent of cases would support making this facility a smoke-free hospital. The smoking rate was 36.9% amongst our hospital health workers. Smoking prevalence was higher in males (48%) than females (27.6%). The greatest smoking rate was amongst ancillary staff. Ninety-five percent of healthcare workers were supportive of a law requiring hospitals to be smoke-free.
Highlights
Tobacco use is an important public health issue around the world, especially in developing countries
When classified according to clinic, the greatest rate of smoking was in the psychiatry clinic (60.0%), and the lowest rate of smoking was in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) Clinic (0.0%)
The danger of tobacco smoke is not limited to the smoker; environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of lung cancer to 30% for nonsmokers [9,10,11,12,13]
Summary
Tobacco use is an important public health issue around the world, especially in developing countries. The World Health Organization has reported that 60 million people died between 1950 and 2000 due to smoking-related illnesses, more than the number of deaths in World War II [1,2]. Recent studies link smoking with an increased risk of diseases, such as coronary heart disease and cancers, as well as early death [2,3,4,5,6,7]. The danger of tobacco smoke is not limited to the smoker; environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of lung cancer to 30% for nonsmokers [9,10,11,12,13]. In the United States, each year, 3,000 lung cancer cases is are attributed to environmental tobacco smoke [13]
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