title: [Acceptance of smoke-free policy in a psychiatric department by in-patients and staff].
abstract: The high smoking prevalence among psychiatric patients and staff in psychiatric hospitals explains the difficulties in accompanying efforts for the introduction of regulations for a smoke-free environment. Prior to the establishment of regulations for a smoke-free psychiatric department at the University Hospital, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Tubingen, a democratic process was initiated. A first survey achieved a high response rate and indicated a high level of acceptance of the introduction of smoke-free regulations. A task group formulated a set of internal smoking policies and regulations, including the location of smoke-free zones and options to support smoking cessation initiatives. Further surveys documented a majority signalling acceptance of the smoking restrictions and an increasing number of non-smokers. In conclusion, it is possible to successfully regulate smoking in a psychiatric facility by involving the staff in the process.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Friederike D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Wernz
authors.forename: Hubertus M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Friederich
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buchkremer
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batra
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany; D006291:Health Policy; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution