Work factors as predictors of smoking relapse in nurses' aides.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of tobacco smoking in nurses' aides (assistant nurses) is high. Many smokers make attempts to stop smoking, but a large portion of these relapse after some period of time. The objective of this study was to identify work factors that predict smoking relapse in nurses' aides.


METHODS
Of 1,373 Norwegian nurses' aides--who were former smokers, not current smokers, and not on leave when they completed a questionnaire in 1999--1,203 (87.6%) filled in a second questionnaire 15 months later. A wide spectrum of physical, psychological, social, and organisational work factors were assessed by validated questionnaires at baseline. Respondents who reported smoking at least one cigarette per day at the follow-up were considered having resumed daily smoking (relapse).


RESULTS
Social climate in the work unit (index with 3 items: supportive, trustful, relaxed) and frequency of exposure to threats and violence were the only work factors that were associated with the occurrence of relapse after adjustments for background factors. In a logistic regression analysis, frequent exposure to threats and violence at work (odds ratio (OR)=2.08; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-4.29), and the lowest quintile of the social climate index (OR=2.12; CI: 1.03-4.36) were associated with increased risk of smoking relapse, after adjustments for age, gender, marital status, and having preschool children.


CONCLUSIONS
A poor social climate in the work unit and frequent exposure to threats and violence at work may be predictors of smoking relapse in nurses' aides. It is essential that leaders in the health services put more emphasis on creating a supportive, relaxed, and trustful social climate in the work unit. It is also important that protective measures against violent patients are implemented, and that occupational health officers offer victims of violence appropriate support or therapy.
Eriksen
Willy
W
Department of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, 1130, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway. w.b.eriksen@samfunnsmed.uio.no
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017132:Workplace