PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ana Lucas
AU  - J.M. Calheiros
AU  - S.B. Ravara
TI  - Prevalence of tobacco use among inpatients in a partial smoke-free hospital- A cross-sectional study in a Portuguese hospital
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P4188
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4188.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P4188.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Background: Smoke-free hospitals are a window of opportunity towards smoking cessation. However, partial bans may hinder this goal. Setting: A medium-sized partial smoke-free Hospital in Portugal. Smoking rooms are allowed in mental health department. Aim: To access prevalence of smokers among adult inpatients (≥18 years) and factors associated. Methods: Cross-sectional study in 2012. Structured interviews were carried out among inpatients. Expired air carbon monoxide (CO) levels of all patients reporting being smokers were measured. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression was performed. Results: Of the 289 inpatients, 151 were interviewed. Smoking status was accessed by clinical files on other 5 inpatients. Participation rate (54.0%) was hindered by factors related with patients' disease severity, consciousness level and cognitive skills and barriers rose by healthcare providers. Of the participants, 51% were males; mean age was 68.4±15.3 years (median 73; range: 21-94). Smoking prevalence was 16.7% (95%CI: 10.85-22.55); 59.6% were never-smokers and 23.7% ex-smokers. Of the interviewed inpatients, 21 were smokers. Of those, 13 reported smoking in hospital premises (10 in the psychiatric smoking room) CO levels were ≥7 in 7 patients. Being a smoker was predicted by age (OR:11.88; 95%CI:3.89-36.27, p<0.001), followed by being a psychiatric inpatient (OR:6.15; 95%CI:1.55-24.33, p=0.010) and being a male (OR:4.62; 95%CI:1.40-15.23, p=0.012). Conclusions: Smoking prevalence was considerable. Smoking exemptions in Hospitals may contribute to smoking in the Hospital. Hospitals and mental health units should be 100% smoke-free.