A "smoke-free" hospital in Israel--a possible mission.
BACKGROUND
A revised antismoking law in Israel (August 2001) called for a complete ban of smoking in hospitals. An evaluation of a hospital process and short-term outcome of implementing such policy may guideline its sustainability.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional, random-sample surveys of employees 3 months before policy implementation, and 6-9 months post-implementation. The pre-implementation survey included 368 employees (90.4% response rate) and the post-implementation survey, 364 (92.8% response rate).


RESULTS
The 'smoke-free' policy significantly reduced smoking in the unauthorized areas. Before implementation, 63% of staff reported frequently observing smoking in the hospital, compared to 40% 6 months post-policy implementation (P < 0.001). Significantly more smokers reported leaving their workplace to smoke (17% pre- vs. 62% post-implementation, P < 0.0001). Sixty-five percent of smokers, in both surveys, agreed that "a smoke-free policy is unfair to smokers". Fewer nonsmokers subscribed to this belief: 42% pre- and 34% post-implementation. Smoker prevalence remained unchanged (19%).


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of a "smoke-free" policy is an effective way to reduce smoking in the hospital environment. More effort is required, however, to help staff quit smoking altogether.
Donchin
Milka
M
Occupational Health Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. milka@hadassah.org.il
Baras
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007882:Legislation, Hospital; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D011050:Policy Making; D011336:Probability; D011640:Public Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution