SMOKING-HABITS, EXPOSURE TO PASSIVE SMOKING AND ATTITUDES TO A NONSMOKING POLICY AMONG HOSPITAL STAFF

A survey was carried out into the smoking habits and exposure to passi ve smoking among health staff in the hospitals of Faenza, Forli and Ri mini (Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy). 2453 subjects answered anonymou sly a 41 question questionnaire. 53% of the subjects were professional nurses, 16% doctors, 15% maintenance staff, 10% ancillary staff, 1% n on-medical graduates, 2% were administrators and 3% were assigned to t he category 'others'. Of the subjects answering the questionnaire 39% were smokers, 19% ex-smokers and 42% non smokers. The highest number o f smokers was found among women (41%) compared to men (37%) and among ancillary staff (48%) compared to nurses (41%) and doctors (31%). The males were mostly heavy smokers (greater than or equal to 20 cigarette s/d) and smoked strong cigarettes (greater than or equal to 12mg/cig c ondensate content). The females were mostly light smokers (<10 cigaret tes/d) and smoked light cigarettes (1-6mg/cig condensate content). A h igh percentage of subjects (87%) smoked at work especially in areas re served for staff. 43% and 26% of shift workers and non-shift workers t ended not to modify their habit when an morning or afternoon shifts. D uring night shifts the majority of them increased their tobacco consum ption. Around 87% of hospital employees stated they were exposed to pa ssive smoking inside the hospital especially in cooking areas, at info rmation desks and corridors. Nurses, ancillaries and maintenance staff were those most exposed and for a greater number of hours per day com pared to doctors. Almost all subjects were aware of the harm caused by passive smoking. 56% of smokers, 65% of ex-smokers and 72% of non smo kers said they were willing to participate in future campaigns to limi t smoking in their hospitals.