Smoking intervention among hospital staff at the H:S Bispebjerg Hospital. Toward a non-smoking hospital--short-term results
Backer, V.; Olsen, A.D.; Enevoldsen, H.K.; Munk, P.; Schiønning, H.; Kann, A.; Mundt, K.; Agner, T.; Tønnesen, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 161(24): 3663-3665
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 10485225 Document Number: 510386
As part of aiming towards a non-smoking hospital environment, staff at a Copenhagen university hospital were offered participation in a differentiated smoking cessation programme. This consisted of lectures, group therapy, follow-up visits and individually tailored nicotine replacement therapy free-of-charge for six weeks. Three hundred and seventy-four employees started the programme, with 353 continuing for the full six weeks. They were moderately nicotine dependent with a Fagerström score of 5 (0-10). Almost all smoked daily and smoked at work, with 87% having a CO measurement above 5 at the first visit. At six weeks follow-up 209 (59%) were still not smoking and a further seven (2%) had reduced their tobacco consumption substantially. The remainder had started smoking again. Only 10% had a CO measurement > 5 at the end of the study. In conclusion, a combination of theoretical education, individual follow-up visits and nicotine replacement therapy is useful and worthwhile in the effort to support hospital staff in smoking cessation.