ATTITUDES TOWARD NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AMONG CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY UNIT STAFF - BEFORE AND AFTER A SMOKING CESSATION TRIAL

As a part of a prospective study to assess the effect of nicotine depe ndence treatment among smokers undergoing inpatient treatment for othe r addictions, we surveyed the treatment staff about their attitudes to ward smoking. The study was carried out in the Alcoholism and Drug Dep endence Unit (ADDU), an inpatient addictions' treatment unit at Mayo C linic. The subjects for this report were the ADDU staff. The attitude survey used was modified from that of Bobo and Gilchrist, and the surv ey was conducted for all staff before and after the prospective interv ention study. Compared with the pre-study survey, the post-study surve y indicated more staff thought nicotine dependence treatment should be provided to all smokers (p = 0.025). The percentage who thought that nicotine dependence treatment should be encouraged at the time of admi ssion to the unit also increased (p = 0.005). Overall, staff attitudes toward nicotine dependence treatment changed toward more acceptance. While the intervention trial likely had an effect, other factors could also have played a role in this apparent change in staff attitude.