Smoking behavior, initiating and cessation factors among Japanese nurses: a cohort study

The prevalence of smoking among Japanese nurses, specially in their twenties, is higher than that among the general female population. To examine smoking behavior, smoking initiating and cessation factors, we conducted a cohort study through questionnaire survey, targeting nurses (n=1572) working at 11 hospitals located in Tokyo metropolitan area. The first survey was conducted using a confidential questionnaire on smoking, followed by a second survey conducted in the same manner on the same subjects two years later. As to smoking status after two years, 8% (95%CI=1.5%) started smoking and 6% (95%CI=1.4%) quitted resulting in a 2% increase in the prevalence of current smoking. The average nicotine dependence for nurses who were smokers in the two surveys rose from 3.9 to 4.3 (P<0.05). Smoking behavior of mother, friends, or superiors at work had a significant influence on smoking behavior of nurses. As to smoking cessation factors, the idea that women and medical workers should not smoke, and living with family each had a significant influence. Considering the fact that 6% of nurses in this study succeeded in quitting smoking within two years, it is required that anti-smoking education be conducted at medical institutions to decrease the prevalence of current smoking among the nurses in Japan.