SURVEY OF SMOKING-HABITS AND ATTITUDES OF PATIENTS AND STAFF IN PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITALS

One hundred and six staff members and 150 patients of three psychiatri c hospitals in Israel were administered a smoking habit and attitutes questionnaire. Upon analyzing the data, staff members and patients mad e up a very high percentage of smokers, 48.1 and 76%, respectively. Th e staff was not knowledgeable enough about the hazards of smoking. Nur ses generously used cigarettes in order to appease the patients. Furth ermore, the patients admitted being encouraged to smoke by the staff. According to these findings, a patient hospitalized in the psychiatric hospitals surveyed is significantly exposed to the pro-smoking atmosp here and the hazards of smoking.