Smoke-free medical facility campus legislation: support, resistance, difficulties and cost.
Although medical facilities restrict smoking inside, many people continue to smoke outside, creating problems with second-hand smoke, litter, fire risks, and negative role modeling. In 2005, Arkansas passed legislation prohibiting smoking on medical facility campuses. Hospital administrators (N=113) were surveyed pre- and post-implementation. Administrators reported more support and less difficulty than anticipated. Actual cost was 10-50% of anticipated cost. Few negative effects and numerous positive effects on employee performance and retention were reported. The results may be of interest to hospital administrators and demonstrate that state legislation can play a positive role in facilitating broad health-related policy change.
Health Behavior and Health Education Department, College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. cesheffer@uams.edu
Christine
C
Sheffer
Maxine
M
Stitzer
J Gary
JG
Wheeler
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007878:Legislation as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*