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[Who smoke at a general hospital? Clinical comment]
M A Ocampo-Ocampo1, E Cuevas-Aguirre, I Borjas-Rivera
1Clínica Contra el Tabaquismo Unidad de Neumología Alejandro Celis, Hospital General de México, O.D. rc1neumo@.servidor.unam.mx
Gaceta Medica De Mexico
|January 5, 2002
Summary
A survey of 659 hospital workers found 184 smokers. The majority of smokers were married, worked in administrative or medical areas, and started smoking between ages 10-20 for pleasure or relaxation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Hospital Management
Context:
- Tobacco consumption is a significant public health issue.
- Hospitals, despite their health-focused mission, are not immune to tobacco use among staff.
- Identifying smoking prevalence within hospital settings is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose:
- To identify the prevalence and characteristics of smoking among hospital workers.
- To understand the demographics and motivations associated with smoking in a hospital environment.
- To inform strategies for creating tobacco-free hospital settings.
Summary:
- A survey of 659 workers at a tertiary general hospital revealed 184 (28%) smokers.
- Smokers were predominantly married, worked in administrative or medical offices, and initiated smoking between 10-20 years of age, often seeking pleasure or relaxation.
- Academic level was not a significant factor in tobacco consumption.
Impact:
- The study highlights that the primary smoking location is the work area, leading to involuntary passive smoking for 70% of non-smokers.
- Findings underscore the necessity of implementing measures to eliminate tobacco use and promote a smoke-free environment within hospitals.
- Addressing workplace smoking is vital for protecting both patient and staff health.