title: Establishing smoke-free hospitals in Vietnam: a pilot project.
abstract: In Vietnam, a pilot 'smoke-free hospital' model was implemented in nine hospitals in 2009-2010 to supply lessons learned that would facilitate a replication of this model elsewhere. This study aimed to assess smoking patterns among health professionals and to detect levels of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure within hospital premises before and after the 'smoke-free hospital' model implementation. A pre- and post-intervention cross-sectional study was conducted in nine purposively selected hospitals. Air nicotine levels were measured using passive nicotine monitors; smoking evidence was collected through on-site observations; and smoking patterns were assessed through interviews with health workers. Despite the 'smoke-free hospital' intervention, smoking continued among health-care workers who were former smokers. Specifically, self-reported smoking prevalence significantly decreased post-intervention, but the number of daily cigarettes smoked at workplaces among male health workers remained unchanged. Post-intervention, smoking was more likely to take place outside buildings and cafeterias. However, air nicotine levels in the doctors' lounges and in emergency departments did not change post-intervention. Air nicotine levels at other sites decreased minimally. Tailored tobacco cessation programmes, targeting current smokers and mechanisms to enforce non-smoking, should be established to meet requirements of Vietnam's comprehensive National Tobacco Control Law effective in May 2013.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health , Hanoi Medical University , Hanoi , Vietnam.
authors.forename: Dao Thi Minh
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Naseeb
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kibria
authors.forename: Nguyen Van
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Huy
authors.forename: Phan Thi
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Hai
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stillman
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006302:Health Services Research; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011050:Policy Making; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy; D014744:Vietnam
keywords: Vietnam; air nicotine level; second-hand smoke exposure; smoke-free hospital; tobacco control