Implementation of 100% smoke-free hospital in Thailand

The best way to protect non-smokers' health is to provide a smoke-free environment. Hospitals should be 100% smoke-free for the health of all patients and personnel.

To evaluate the 100% smoke-free hospital development plan for 2007-2009.

The present study conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive research from May to September 2009. Questionnaires on the 100% smoke-free hospital policy implementation were distributed to 1,040 hospitals, surveying the operational policy, environmental aspect, community activities, cessation service, and research aspects.

During 5-month period, 676 out of 1,040 distributed questionnaires were answered, representing 1,159 Thai hospitals at 95 +/- 3% confidence level. 86.4% of Thai hospitals became 100% smoke-free with announced local smoking policy, smoking cessation program, put up smoking free policy signs, organized smoking related activities, organized the global non-smoking day activities, set up smoking cessation clinic in the hospital, and encouraged staff to quit smoking. Out of 12 aspects, only four are implemented in less than 80% of the hospitals, setting up the working team, identifying smokers among patients, fining smokers in the hospitals, and researching. In order to be a 100% smoke-free hospital, both the staffs and inpatients must strictly refrain from smoking. Smoking staff were also encouraged to quit smoking in 95.7% of the hospitals. However only 53.4% of the Thai hospitals provided smoking cessation service to inpatients.

86.4% of Thai hospitals have become 100% smoke-free. For more effective hospital operation, TPAAT should set the standard for 100% smoke-free hospitals, presenting the Best Practice hospital, setting protocol in smoking cessation, protocol of fining smokers in the hospitals, and arranging academic conferences.