Worksite smoking control, discouragement, and cessation.

Smoking control, discouragement, and cessation were investigated at three comparable chemical plants. One plant was randomly assigned to smoking cessation only while the other two plants were assigned to a comprehensive program of smoking control, discouragement, and cessation. Three weeks later, smoking cessation was provided at all three sites. Results are consistent with a previous investigation of the comprehensive program carried out at two oil refineries. Not only was there a greater rate of participation in the smoking cessation program with the comprehensive program, 4 months after completion of smoking cessation treatment revealed significant changes on all outcome variables in the expected direction and suggest the superiority of a comprehensive program of smoking control, discouragement, and cessation over cessation alone.

Smoking control and smoking rate: implications for worksite smoking cessation.

Amount of control of smoking at three comparable chemical plants was associated with smoking rates. Using a self-report survey, smoking rates were assessed at the three plants. Company authorities were asked about smoking control policy and the extent to which smoking was controlled at each of the three plants was observed. A judgment was made that one plant had a very strict smoking control policy while the other two had moderate policies of control. Smoking rate was then compared for each of the three companies. The company with the strongest smoking control policy had a significantly lower mean rate of smoking than the other two companies. Smoking control may serve to facilitate cessation on the worksite.

A comprehensive worksite smoking control, discouragement, and cessation program.

The effectiveness of a comprehensive program of worksite smoking control, discouragement, and cessation was compared with a program of smoking cessation alone. Two comparable oil refineries served as the research sites. Outcome variables consisted of employee self-reported smoking rate assessed by the use of a smoking questionnaire and unobtrusive observations of smoking behavior before and after the intervention. One company was randomly assigned to the comprehensive program of smoking control, discouragement, and cessation while the other company only received smoking cessation. Humorous antismoking posters emphasizing the benefits of quitting smoking were distributed throughout the first worksite and changed every 2 weeks. Large banners stating "Go SmokeFree" were also placed at all locations to this plant and left up for the duration of the study. Three weeks after the initiation of the smoking discouragement program at one refinery, a group smoking cessation program was begun at both plants. At a 5-month follow-up, participants in the smoking cessation treatment at the plant receiving the comprehensive program achieved a 5-month abstinence rate of 43% in comparison with a rate of 21% at the refinery receiving only smoking cessation.

A 12-year comparison of hospitalized veterans' attitudes toward smoking and smoking cessation.

A 48-item questionnaire designed to measure attitudes toward smoking and interest in smoking cessation was administered to 76 male patients hospitalized at the New Orleans VA Medical Center and the results were compared to three previous administrations of the same instrument 4, 8, and 12 years earlier. With the exception of age, most of the responses were similar to those on the previous administrations. Significant differences were found in the number of veterans over 62, the number of smokers who have been unable to quit for more than a week, those stating that they need assistance to stop smoking, and those indicating that they would participate in treatment to help them stop smoking. It appears that the aging VA patient population contains a large number of patients who are unable to stop smoking on their own and who feel they need assistance to stop smoking. Implications for VA policy are discussed.

An 8-year comparison of hospitalized veterans' attitudes toward smoking and smoking cessation.

A 48-item questionnaire designed to measure attitudes toward smoking and interest in smoking cessation treatment was administered to 73 male hospitalized veterans and compared with previous administrations of the same instrument 4 and 8 years earlier. A surprising degree of stability of responses over time was evident. The alarmingly high rate of smoking among hospitalized veterans was again confirmed by this survey. The present survey showed that 60% of the sample smoked, compared with 68% and 69% found in the previous surveys. Forty-five percent of the smokers surveyed reported that they would be willing to participate in a program designed to help them stop smoking. It was pointed out that the Veterans Administration has failed to adequately address the problem behavior of smoking.

The control, discouragement, and cessation of smoking in a hospital setting.

Smoking interventions in a hospital setting are reviewed. Research on smoking control indicates that smoking can be easily controlled in a hospital setting with little or no resistance from patients and/or employees. Smoking discouragement efforts have also been found to decrease smoking rate, and to change attitudes in regard to smoking as a health hazard and decrease sales of tobacco products in a hospital setting. Smoking cessation efforts have also been found to be effective in a hospital setting. An argument is made for the use of a comprehensive program utilizing all three components: smoking control, discouragement, and cessation.

The discouragement of smoking in a hospital setting.

Attitudes toward smoking among hospital patients and employees, smoking rates in specified areas, and the sales of tobacco products were assessed prior to a hospitalwide smoking discouragement program. Discouragement efforts consisted of the distribution of antismoking posters, educational materials, and displays, and placement of signs on the hazards of smoking at all hospital entrances and at the points of sale of cigarettes in the hospital canteen. Results show some significant decreases in the sale of tobacco products, changes in attitudes to become more critical of smoking, and changes in the smoking rate in the canteen eating area and main lobby.

Attitudes toward smoking and smoking rate: implications for smoking discouragement.

Attitudes toward smoking were measured among nonsmokers and five levels of smokers (light to heavy). Of 13 attitude items, a relationship between attitudes and number of cigarettes smoked was found to exist in five, three of which dealt with smoking as a health risk. The results suggest that the more cigarettes a person smokes, the greater the likelihood of denial of the health hazards associated with smoking.

Smoking control in a hospital setting.

Unobtrusive observations of smoking behavior at four hospital areas designated as no-smoking and two designated as smoking revealed almost total compliance to a revised and stringent smoking control policy. The smoking control policy was a radical departure from the traditional, liberal practices. Of particular importance was the relative absence of complaints from patients and employees following the initiation of the smoking control program. The implications of practical, cost-effective smoking control procedures existing for hospitals are discussed in reference to their liability to protect patients from controllable hazards.

Smoking cessation with hospital employees: an example of worksite smoking cessation.

Fifteen hospital employees and two patients completed a smoking cessation treatment program of 10 1-hour sessions. At 6-month follow-up, 13 of the employees were still working at the hospital and were able to be contacted. Of those employees who completed treatment and were still employed, seven were not smoking, a success rate of 53%. Worksite smoking cessation programs are viewed not only as cost-effective ways for hospitals to help their employees stop but as a way of encouraging their employees to model more healthy behavior to patients.

The control of smoking: smoking rate in designated smoking and no-smoking areas.

Unobtrusive measurements were taken over a 5-day period at three hospital areas designated as smoking permitted and three designated as no-smoking. A surprisingly high degree of compliance was observed in reported patient complaints or criticisms in regard to the controlled-smoking policy. The practical advantages of a comprehensive, hospital-wide sign program designating smoking and no-smoking areas are discussed.

The effect of differently worded no-smoking signs on smoking behavior.

The effect of positively versus negatively worded no-smoking signs was investigated in an attempt to determine the effectiveness of controlling smoking in a hospital setting. Unobtrusive measurements of smoking behavior were taken in the main lobby before and after the placement of positively and negatively worded no-smoking signs. The results clearly showed that there was less smoking under the experimental sign condition. Positively worded signs appeared to produce better compliance than negatively worded signs.

The discouragement of smoking in a hospital setting: the importance of modeled behavior.

The present study looked at the importance of modeled behavior of hospital employees on the smoking behavior of patients and visitors. A high status model meant to resemble a medical doctor and a "peer" model meant to resemble a patient smoked in the presence of patients and visitors waiting in a no smoking area. The results clearly show an increased smoking rate among subjects when models smoked, with women slightly more influenced to smoke than men. No significant difference was found between models. The findings tend to support the importance of health personnel, particularly doctors, refraining from smoking in the presence of patients.