ABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the outcome of a protocol for smoking cessation used in the practice of the community pharmacies. DESIGN: Observational descriptive study of a non pharmacological intervention, without parallel control. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Urban community pharmacies in the province of Trieste (n=60). Data have been collected by 31 pharmacists representing 31 pharmacies (52%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome of a brief intervention aimed to promote the use of nicotine replacement (NRT) or to refer to a smoking cessation clinic. RESULTS: Data of 905 smokers have been analysed: 16.1% (CI 95%: 11.6%-20.5%) purchased NRT and 11.1% (CI 95%: 7.8%-14.5%) accepted to be referred to a smoking cessation clinic. The assessment of the degree of motivation to stop smoking and of the degree of nicotine dependence, according to West, is highly associated to the outcome of the intervention. CONCLUSION: The study encourages the use of no-smoking programs in the community pharmacies. Intervention must be short and simple. West's assessment system is useful and reliable for smokers' evaluation and for decisions regarding the therapeutic strategy of smoking cessation.
Subject(s)
Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care , Smoking Cessation/methods , Smoking Prevention , Community Pharmacy Services , Female , Health Promotion , Humans , Male , Pharmacists , Smoking/drug therapy , Smoking/epidemiology , Smoking Cessation/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: in Italy law n.3/2003 has banned smoking in closed places, with the exception of private venues and of public venues reserved for smokers and marked as such. The present report estimates the effects of the ban. DESIGN: comparison between periods (before-after enforcement of the law). SETTING: City of Trieste. PARTICIPANTS: Six bars and four shops (convenience sample). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: particulate matter fractions PM10 and PM2.5 in bars and stores before and after enforcement of the law, outdoor PM10. Concentrations were estimated over the normal working hours of the premises. RESULTS: after enforcement of the law the concentration of PM2.5 in bars fell by 73% (p < 0.01), whereas the concentration of the PM10-2.5 fraction did not decrease significantly. Overall, the mean concentration of PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 in shops showed no statistically significant change. CONCLUSION: mean hourly PM2.5 concentrations, used as a proxy for indoor pollution caused by environmental tobacco smoke in bars were significantly reduced.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring/methods , Restaurants/legislation & jurisprudence , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/analysis , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/legislation & jurisprudence , Humans , Italy , Particle SizeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: to assess smoking habits, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and smoking attitudes of workers toward different possible institutional restrictions before and after the implementation of the new Italian legislation about the public health protection from passive smoking (L 3/2003). DESIGN: Descriptive study based on self-reported questionnaires (2004 and 2005) and indoor measurement of particulate matter (PM, 2004 and 2006). SETTING: Local health authority n.1 Triestina (1,067 employees). PARTICIPANTS: 746 workers in 2004, 200 workers in 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: percentage of smokers and opinions about different firms of control of smoking (absolute prohibition, smokers' reserved locals). Indoor mean levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in workplaces. RESULTS: smoking employees in 2004 and in 2005 were 28% and 31% (difference non statistically significant). Employees exposed to ETS has been reported decreased from 58% to 47% (p= 0.006). Major reduction has been reported in the offices, while exposure in examination rooms resulted higher in comparison to the offices, both in 2004 and in 2006 Among smokers 43% are available to external helps in order to quit or reduce smoking. Levels of PM2.5 were, in 2006, constantly smaller then those measured in 2004. The same for PM10 (a less specific tobacco smoke indicator) except for the value recorded in one room, slightly higher then in 2004. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that ETS in the surveyed Local Health Authority has been reduced but not eliminated. It is necessary to implement further interventions finalized to defend health of not smoking people: a greater respect of the law, specific health promotion campaigns and free therapeutic interventions in workplaces.
