[Results of the first program to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the staff of Salamanca Council, Spain]. / Resultados del primer programa para la reducción del tabaquismo en los trabajadores del Ayuntamiento de Salamanca, España.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the most important risk factor for public health and one of the factors with the greatest economic repercussions for society. The aim of the present work is to publish the results of a programme to reduce smoking in the working environment. METHODS: A programme was designed in two stages. The first consisted of carrying out a survey to establish the prevalence of smoking and the attitudes towards smoking of staff working for Salamanca district Council. The second stage consisted of a specialized treatment programme for all the workers who wanted to try to give up smoking. RESULTS: A total of 384 workers answered the questionnaire. Of these, 135 (35.1%) were smokers of whom 80.5% (n = 113) wanted to give up smoking and to receive medical help to do so. A total of 73 workers started the programme. After one year of treatment, 41% of the workers who had started the programme had dropped out. An average of 2.9 of every 3 workers found the programme satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of smoking in Salamanca District Council is similar to that described in the National Health Survey, 1997. Programmes to treat smoking in the working environment are useful to reduce the prevalence of smoking and are welcomed by the workers. Reducing the prevalence of smoking is the first step towards achieving smoke-free institutions.

Resultados del Primer Programa para la Reducción del Tabaquismo en los trabajadores del Ayuntamiento de Salamanca, España / Results of First Programme to Reduce the Prevalence of Smoking in the Staff of Salamanca Council, Spain

Fundamento: El tabaquismo es el principal factor de riesgo en salud pública y una de las causas que ocasionan una mayor carga económica para la sociedad. El presente trabajo tiene por objeto conocer los resultados de un programa de deshabituación tabáquica en el medio laboral. Métodos: Se diseñó un programa con dos fases. La primera consistió en la realización de una encuesta para conocer la prevalencia y actitudes respecto al tabaco de los trabajadores del Ayuntamiento de Salamanca. La segunda en un programa de tratamiento especializado destinado a todos los trabajadores que deseasen dejar de fumar. Resultados: Respondieron a la encuesta 384 trabajadores, de los cuales 135 (35,1 per cent) eran fumadores. El 80,5 per cent de estos (n = 113) deseaban dejar el tabaco y recibir ayuda médica para lograrlo. Iniciaron el programa de tratamiento 73 trabajadores. Al año de tratamiento se observó una tasa de abandono del tabaco del 41 per cent de los trabajadores que lo iniciaron. El nivel de satisfacción de los trabajadores con el programa fue de una media de 2,9 sobre 3.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de tabaquismo entre los trabajadores del Ayuntamiento de Salamanca es similar a la descrita en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de 1997. El programa de tratamiento del tabaquismo logró un porcentaje de abstinencia al año de más del 40 per cent. Los programas de tratamiento del tabaquismo en el medio laboral son útiles para reducir la prevalencia del tabaquismo y bien valorados por los trabajadores. Reducir la prevalencia del tabaquismo es el primer paso para la consecución de instituciones libres de humo (AU)

Background: Smoking is the most important risk factor for public health and one of the factors with the greatest economic repercussions for society. The aim of the present work is to publish the results of a programme to reduce smoking in the working environment. Methods: A programme was designed in two stages. The first consisted of carrying out a survey to establish the prevalence of smoking and the attitudes towards smoking of staff working for Salamanca district Council. The second stage consisted of a specialized treatment programme for all the workers who wanted to try to give up smoking. Results: A total of 384 workers answered the questionnaire. Of these, 135 (35.1%) were smokers of whom 80.5% (n = 113) wanted to give up smoking and to receive medical help to do so. A total of 73 workers started the programme. After one year of treatment, 41% of the workers who had started the programme had dropped out. An average of 2.9 of every 3 workers found the programme satisfactory. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking in Salamanca District Council is similar to that described in the National Health Survey, 1997. Programmes to treat smoking in the working environment are useful to reduce the prevalence of smoking and are welcomed by the workers. Reducing the prevalence of smoking is the first step towards achieving smoke-free institutions (AU)