Motivations for smoking in hospitalized patients

To investigate the profile of motivations for smoking among inpatients at a hospital in southern Brazil.

A survey study involving hospitalized smokers. The Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale (MRFSS) and its domains were analyzed according to gender and dependence degree.

The sample consisted of 85 adults (mean age 53 years), low schooling/family income, and well-adjusted in terms of gender (male= 52.9%) and clinical (48%) or surgical (47%) specialty. Most were in Action as the motivational stage (68%), with elevated smoking exposure (median = 39 years/packs) and dependence degree of nicotine (56.4%). The highest domains of the MRFSS were: Smoking Pleasure (4.34 ± 1.2), Relaxation/Tension Reduction (4.24 ± 1.2) and Dependence (3.8±1.4). Significantly, women presented higher scores, in domain Relaxation/Tension Reduction (4.7±0.9). In those with elevated nicotine dependence, higher scores were observed in the Automatism/Habit and Stimulation domains.

Smoking Pleasure and Relaxation/Tension Reduction, especially in women and Automatism, in those more dependents, are factors that should be more highlighted in future strategies for smoking cessation in inpatients.