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Exploration of in-patient attitudes towards smoking within a large mental health trust

^*Assertive Outreach Team, Arundel House Mental Health Resource Centre, Smithdown Health Park, Smithdown Road, Liverpool L15 2HE, UK

Charlotte O’Callaghan, Specialist Registrar in Psychiatry

Older Peoples Services, Sir Douglas Crawford Unit, Mossley Hill Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Declaration of interest

The authors were employed by Mersey Care NHS Trust at the time of the study.

AIMS AND METHOD

To explore the smoking habits of in-patients on psychiatric wards, their beliefs about the effects of smoking on health, and their attitudes towards hospital and government smoking policies. Face-to-face interviews with 135 in-patients were conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 54.1% of participants smoked. Smoking was less prevalent in those aged 65 years and older (P<0.001). Non-smokers were more likely to believe smoking to be harmful to health (P=0.002). Overall, 71.1% of the participants favoured the existing smoking policy, with only 3.0% wanting a complete ban on smoking and 54.1% agreeing with banning smoking in public places.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Further studies are warranted into the views of in-patients elsewhere and to see whether attitudes change as trusts tighten their smoking policies. Outdoor smoking areas may need to be considered, although in practice this may not be possible in all trusts.