[Results of the first program to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the staff of Salamanca Council, Spain].
BACKGROUND
Smoking is the most important risk factor for public health and one of the factors with the greatest economic repercussions for society. The aim of the present work is to publish the results of a programme to reduce smoking in the working environment.


METHODS
A programme was designed in two stages. The first consisted of carrying out a survey to establish the prevalence of smoking and the attitudes towards smoking of staff working for Salamanca district Council. The second stage consisted of a specialized treatment programme for all the workers who wanted to try to give up smoking.


RESULTS
A total of 384 workers answered the questionnaire. Of these, 135 (35.1%) were smokers of whom 80.5% (n = 113) wanted to give up smoking and to receive medical help to do so. A total of 73 workers started the programme. After one year of treatment, 41% of the workers who had started the programme had dropped out. An average of 2.9 of every 3 workers found the programme satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of smoking in Salamanca District Council is similar to that described in the National Health Survey, 1997. Programmes to treat smoking in the working environment are useful to reduce the prevalence of smoking and are welcomed by the workers. Reducing the prevalence of smoking is the first step towards achieving smoke-free institutions.
Barrueco Ferrero
Miguel
M
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente 58-182, 37007 Salamanca. mibafe@gugu.usal.es
Hernández-Mezquita
Miguel Angel
MA
Calvo Sánchez
Antonio
A
García Cirac
María José
MJ
Rodríguez Calderón
Montserrat
M
Torrecilla García
Miguel
M
González Bustos
Mar
M
Jiménez Ruiz
Carlos
C
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors