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.
Occupational Health Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. milka@hadassah.org.il
Milka
M
Donchin
Mario
M
Baras
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