[Smoking cessation program for health personnel--is it worth while?]

A smoking cessation programme was offered to the staff members at H:S Bispebjerg Hospital as part of the political process toward a smoke-free hospital. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term effect of the programme on smoking cessation and to identify factors influencing the success rate.

The study was designed as a 12-month follow-up mailed questionnaire study among 345 staff-members, who participated in the smoking cessation programme between October 1998 and March 1999 (approximately 30% of the smokers employed at the hospital). The participation rate in the study was 70%. A higher participation rate was found among higher educated than lower educated staff members (p = 0.004). No differences in baseline smoking habits were found between participants and non-participants. Mean follow-up time was 389 days.

At 12-month follow-up the success-rate was 22% among all 345 participants, and 33% among participants in the 12-month follow-up. No difference was found between men and women. We found that early debut of smoking gave a higher risk of relapse. A similar result was found for higher tobacco-consumption, lower education and earlier quit attempt, none of these findings was statistically significant, though.

This smoking cessation programme had a high success rate (22%-33%) compared to clinical studies. In addition, we found that the programme could reach a large group of the smokers employed (30%). Based on the results we find it reasonable to conclude that a successful smoking cessation programme aimed at staff members can be established at hospitals as an important part moving towards a smoke-free hospital.