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[Smoking cessation for hospital staff. A controlled intervention study].
A Michalsen1, B Richarz, H Reichardt
1Abt. für Innere Medizin V und Integrative Medizin, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Germany.
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|August 23, 2002
Summary
A workplace smoking cessation program in a German hospital achieved significant success, with nearly 40% of participants quitting. Integrating mindfulness-based stress reduction showed potential to further improve smoking cessation rates among hospital staff.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- High smoking prevalence persists in Germany despite public health initiatives.
- Hospital staff often exhibit higher smoking rates than the general population.
- Smoke-free hospital policies necessitate addressing staff smoking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine smoking prevalence among hospital employees.
- To implement and evaluate a smoking cessation program.
- To assess the impact of mindfulness-based stress reduction on cessation outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous questionnaire survey of hospital employees.
- Physician-supervised smoking cessation program with nicotine replacement and brief intervention.
- Randomized controlled trial comparing cessation with and without mindfulness-based stress reduction.
Main Results:
- 47.3% of surveyed employees were smokers.
- Overall abstinence rates at 3 and 6 months were 38.2% and 29.7%.
- Mindfulness group showed non-significant higher abstinence rates and significantly lower CO levels.
Conclusions:
- Workplace interventions can effectively reduce smoking among hospital employees.
- Physician-supervised cessation programs are recommended for hospital staff.
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction may augment smoking cessation but requires further research.