title: Smoking among patients hospitalized at a university hospital in the south of Brazil: prevalence, degree of nicotine dependence, and motivational stage of change.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and profile of smoking among hospitalized patients at a university hospital in the south of Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving patients over 18 years of age hospitalized for over 24 h at the Federal University of Santa Catarina University Hospital, located in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. The patients were interviewed on two distinct occasions. We collected demographic data, socioeconomic data, and data regarding smoking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We interviewed 235 patients: 44 (18.7%) were smokers; 77 (32.8%) were former smokers; 114 (48.5%) were nonsmokers; and 109 (46.7%) were passive smokers. The mean age of the smokers was 45.7 ± 15.2 years, and 29 (65.9%) were male. Among the smokers, the median age at smoking initiation was 15 years; the mean smoking history was 32 ± 30.2 pack-years; 36 (81.9%) smoked up to 20 cigarettes/day; 20 (45.4%) had a high or very high degree of nicotine dependence; 32 (72.7%) had already tried to quit smoking; 39 (88.7%) would like to quit smoking; 32 (72.7%) would accept smoking cessation treatment; 13 (29.5%) smoked during hospitalization; and 13 (29.5%) suffered withdrawal syndrome. Regarding the motivation to quit smoking, the number of patients in the "preparation" and "action" stages of change increased from admission to discharge (from 31.8% to 54.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of smoking in this study was similar to that reported in other studies conducted in Brazil. The results suggest that our sample was significant regarding the population of hospitalized smokers, who are motivated to quit smoking during hospitalization and require a systematized approach for doing so.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil. rafaelbalsinibarreto@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rafael Balsini
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Mariângela Pimental
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pincelli
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steinwandter
authors.forename: André Pacheco
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Jóice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manes
authors.forename: Leila John Marques
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Steidle
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*