[Smoking ban in psychiatric department].
BACKGROUND
It is well known that nicotine and caffeine can increase tension and anxiety, disturb sleep and cause a variety of smoking related health problems.


METHODS
On 1 March 2001, it was decided to ban smoking in a general psychiatric inpatient unit and the patients were asked to confine smoking to outdoor areas. In a retrospective study we looked at the effects of the ban on smoking on "as needed" medication, ward atmosphere and incidents related to the change. The records from 30 patients discharged before the ban and 30 patients after the ban were examined and the demands for "as needed" medication registered.


RESULTS
Two-sample t-test analyses of the groups showed a significant difference in "as needed" medications used between the two groups, with a reduction in the group discharged after the smoking ban (p < 0.01). There was a substantially reduction in coffee consumption and positive improvement in ward atmosphere after the ban as observed by the staff.


CONCLUSIONS
The material is limited; others are encouraged to proceed with validation of our experience.
Yaqub
Sheraz
S
Psykiatrisk avdeling Oppland sentralsykehus avdeling Gjøvik 2819 Gjøvik. sheraz.yaqub@studmed.uio.no
Kyrdalen
Lavrantz
L
D000328:Adult; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data