title: Prevalence of smoking among employees of a university hospital.
abstract: This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence of smoking among employees of a university hospital in Southern Brazil. Data collection happened in 2008, during the periodic health exam, using a questionnaire, according to the smoking status of the employees. The sample consisted of 1,475 subjects, in which 979 (66.4%) were non-smokers, 295 (20%) former smokers and 201 (13.6%) smokers. Smoking was more prevalent among employees with lower education levels and among professionals in administrative positions. Among smokers, low dependence was identified, as well as desire and high degree of motivation to stop smoking, with health concerns as the main reason. Thus, taking into account the motivation of smokers to stop smoking, this is an appropriate time for health education and specific support to employees in the process of smoking cessation.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil. isabel.echer@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Echer
authors.forename: Ana Paula Almeida
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Amália de Fátima
authors.initials: Ade F
authors.lastname: Lucena
authors.forename: Stephani Amanda Lukasewicz
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marli Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Knorst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*