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Survey of staff attitudes to smoking in a large psychiatric hospital

Head of Pharmacy, St Andrew’s Hospital, Billing Road, Northampton NN15DG

Camilla Haw

Consultant Psychiatrist

Liz Garner

Clinical Pharmacist, St Andrew’s Hospital, Northampton

AIMS AND METHOD

The aim of this survey was to examine staff views on smoking at work in a large psychiatric hospital. A postal questionnaire was sent to all clinical staff (n=1471) asking about their smoking habits and attitudes to smoking at work.

RESULTS

The response rate was 40.7%. Overall, 22.0% of respondents were smokers, with unqualified nursing staff having the highest rate (31.0%). The majority of staff did not favour a total ban on smoking by staff, patients or visitors. Smoking habit and profession influenced responses. Smokers and nurses were more permissive in their attitude towards smoking on wards than nonsmokers and psychiatrists.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Implementation of the government’s recommendations on tobacco control in psychiatric units is likely to require considerable preparatory work with staff to ensure full compliance.

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