Changes in prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in secondhand smoke exposure in Spanish children, 2016-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Children are vulnerable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, especially those with lower socioeconomic status. This study assesses the changes in prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities in SHS exposure in children younger than 12 years old in Spain between 2016 and 2019. METHODS: We conducted two cross-sectional studies among representative samples of households with children aged <12 years in Spain, in 2016 (n=2411) and 2019 (n=2412). Families were interviewed to assess children's SHS exposure in private settings and outdoor public venues and their adoption of home and car smoke-free rules. We used the education level of the home main earner as a proxy for socioeconomic position. Changes over time in the prevalence and socioeconomic inequalities of SHS exposure and smoke-free rules were estimated through adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance according to sociodemographic covariates (adjusted prevalence ratios, APRs). RESULTS: In 2019, 70.5% of children were exposed to SHS in Spain. No changes between 2016 and 2019 were found for overall SHS exposure, exposure at home, and at school entrances. SHS exposure increased at public transport stations (APR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.03-1.49) and outdoor hospitality venues (APR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.07-1.29) while it decreased in cars (APR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.56-0.98) and parks (APR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.98). Households with lower education level had higher prevalence of SHS exposure at home in 2019 compared with those with university studies (primary: APR=1.30; 95% CI: 1.11-1.51; secondary: APR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.00-1.25) and were less likely to adopt home indoor smoke-free rules (primary: APR=0.88; 95% CI: 0.79-0.99; secondary: APR=0.95; 95% CI: 0.89-1.02). Socioeconomic inequalities in SHS exposure at home persisted between 2016 and 2019 (p>0.05), while decreased in smoke-free rules in cars (p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Reported SHS exposure among children in Spain remained high between 2016 and 2019. Inequalities persisted at home, highlighting the need for measures to reduce such exposure with an equity perspective.

Improving tobacco cessation interventions in hospitals: Pre-post evaluation of an innovative health systems intervention in Catalonia (Spain).

This study measured changes in healthcare professionals' (HCPs) performance in tobacco cessation intervention before and 6 months after a health system intervention. The intervention involved exposure to online training for staff and the implementation of a structured organizational change-level practice model that included some strategies, comprising establishing tobacco cessation steering groups with champions in each hospital, developing tailored protocols and guidelines within each organization, conducting on-site workshops for clinicians, and creating posters and pocket materials summarizing the intervention. Pre-post evaluation in four hospitals in Barcelona province (Catalonia, Spain). We assessed the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and organizational factors (KABO) and the performance of each of the components of the 5As Model for Treating Tobacco Use according to a scale from 0 ("Never") to 10 ("Always") among HCPs. We performed Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for paired samples and assessed changes in performance by performing linear regression. A total of 255 HCPs completed the pre-post evaluation. All components of the 5As Model increased, with "Assist" and "Arrange a follow-up" showing the greatest improvement. Several KABO dimensions significantly increased, including individual skills (mean score: 3.3-5.7, P < .001), attitudes and beliefs (4.8-5.4, P < .001), individual commitment (5.9-6.6, P < .001), and perception of having positive organizational support (4.3-4.7, P < .001). An increase in each point in individual skills and support of the organization was associated with increased rates of 5As delivery, with the greatest associations found for "Assist" (0.60 and 0.17, respectively) and "Arrange a follow-up" (0.71 and 0.18, respectively). The intervention was successful in increasing HCPs individual skills, attitudes and beliefs, individual commitment, and perception of having positive organizational support and the performance of all components of the 5As. Future research should focus on strategies that promote organizational support, a dimension that is essential to increasing Assist and Arrange, which were less implemented at baseline.

This study aimed to assess the impact of a health system intervention on healthcare professionals' (HCPs) ability to help patients quit tobacco use. The intervention involved exposure to online training for staff and the implementation of a structured organizational change-level practice model that included some strategies, comprising establishing tobacco cessation steering groups with champions in each hospital, developing tailored protocols and guidelines within each organization, conducting on-site workshops for clinicians, and creating posters and pocket materials summarizing the intervention. The study took place in four hospitals in Barcelona province. We measured changes in HCPs' knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and organizational factors related to tobacco cessation interventions. We also evaluated the performance of different components of the 5As Model, which guides tobacco cessation interventions (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange a follow-up). The results showed significant improvements in all components of the 5As Model, with "Assist" and "Arrange a follow-up" showing the most substantial enhancement. Several key dimensions, including individual skills, attitudes, commitment, and perception of organizational support, also improved significantly. Furthermore, we found that increased individual skills and organizational support were associated with higher rates of delivering the 5As components, particularly "Assist" and "Arrange a follow-up." In conclusion, the health system intervention successfully enhanced HCPs' skills, attitudes, commitment, and perception of organizational support, leading to improved performance in helping patients quit tobacco use. Future research should explore strategies to further promote organizational support, especially for components like "Assist" and "Arrange a follow-up" that were less commonly implemented initially.

Incidence and Determinants of COVID-19 Among People Who Smoke (2018-2021): Findings From the ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Surveys.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 and its determinants among a nationally representative sample of adults from Spain who smoke. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that uses data from two waves (Wave 2 in 2018 and Wave 3 in 2021) of the ITC EUREST-PLUS Spain Survey. At baseline (Wave 1 in 2016), all respondents were adults (aged ≥18) who smoked. In total, 1008 respondents participated in Wave 2, and 570 out of 888 eligible participants were followed up in Wave 3 (64.2%). We estimated the cumulative incidence and the relative risk of COVID-19 (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) during follow-up using self-reported information on sociodemographic, smoking-related and health-related characteristics and identified associated factors using multivariable Poisson models with robust variance adjusted for the independent variables. RESULTS: The overall cumulative incidence of self-reported COVID-19 was 5.9% (95% CI: 3.9-8.0%), with no significant differences between males (6.3%; 95% CI: 3.6-9.0%) and females (5.6%; 95% CI: 3.2-8.0%). After adjusting for age, sex, and educational level, COVID-19 incidence was positively associated with moderate nicotine dependence (RR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.04-5.40) and negatively associated with having a partner who smoked (RR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03-0.42), and having friends but not a partner who smoked (RR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.14-0.56). CONCLUSION: The correlates of having had COVID-19 among people who smoke should be considered when tailoring information and targeted non-pharmacological preventive measures.

Quitline nurses' experiences in providing telephone-based smoking cessation help to mental health patients: A mixed methods study.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Quitlines are known to be effective in helping people quit smoking, including those with mental health conditions. It is particularly important to address smoking in this population as the prevalence of smoking ranges from 40% to 75%. However, professionals working in quitlines often face barriers due to their limited training and resources to effectively support these smokers quit, especially if they are not mental health professionals. Therefore, training programmes should be developed to enhance their knowledge and skills in providing smoking cessation support to this vulnerable population. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The '061 QUIT-MENTAL study' evaluated the efficacy of a proactive telephone-based intervention for smoking cessation among smokers with severe mental health disorders. Conducted through a quitline service in Catalonia, Spain, the study focused on training non-mental health specialized nurses and other health professionals to provide evidence-based interventions for promoting smoking cessation among individuals with mental health disorders. The objective of this study is to assess the changes in nurses' knowledge and readiness to treat smokers with mental health conditions, while also capturing their insights and perceptions regarding the facilitators and barriers to providing smoking cessation interventions. The training and insights of the nurses were integral to conducting this research and providing valuable information for the future sustainability of such interventions. This is particularly important as quitlines hold the potential to offer cessation support to these patients at the community level. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: While the training programme was successful in improving non-mental health specialized nurses' knowledge and motivation skills to help patients with mental health disorders quit smoking, they encountered obstacles in delivering this intervention over the phone. These difficulties were mainly due to challenges in reaching participants and delivering the intervention as detailed in the protocol. The study highlights the need of reducing barriers for providers in attending to these patients, particularly if they are non-mental health specialized professionals. By minimizing the stigmatization associated with caring for mentally ill individuals and promoting coordination with specialists, innovative approaches may be introduced to alleviate the burden of tobacco-related diseases among this population. ABSTRACT: Introduction The viewpoint of those who implement a programme for the first time is crucial for understanding its impact and ensuring its long-term viability. The 061 QUIT-MENTAL study was a pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluating a proactive telephone-based intervention addressed to mental health patients conducted by non-psychiatric specialized nurses. Aim We assessed nurses' knowledge of smoking cessation interventions addressed to this population before and after receiving training and their insights after delivering the intervention. Method Mixed methods study: (1) Pre-post evaluation to assess self-reported knowledge, self-efficacy and opinions about smoking cessation. (2) In-depth interviews with key nurses to ascertain their perceptions regarding the impact of the training received in delivering the study intervention. Results The training enhanced nurses' knowledge of psychological and pharmacological resources to aid these patients, as well as their ability to increase their motivation to quit. However, nurses reported difficulties in delivering population-based interventions to individuals with mental health disorders. These challenges primarily arose from participants being hard to reach, exhibiting low motivation to quit, struggling to comprehend instructions or follow recommendations, and nurses feeling unsure about their capacity to assist individuals with mental illnesses in quitting, despite the training they received. Discussion Despite the training and protocol designed to facilitate the delivery of the intervention, nurses faced difficulties in providing population-based interventions to individuals with mental health disorders. Implications for Practice Future quitline programmes aimed at the population with mental health disorders should strive to reduce barriers for providers in attending to these patients, particularly if they are non-mental health specialized professionals. By minimizing the stigmatization associated with caring for mentally ill individuals and promoting coordination with specialists, innovative approaches may be introduced to alleviate the burden of tobacco-related diseases among this population.

Cost of the COVID-19 pandemic versus the cost-effectiveness of mitigation strategies in EU/UK/OECD: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The economic burden of COVID-19 pandemic is substantial, with both direct and indirect costs playing a significant role. DESIGN: A systematic literature review was conducted to estimate the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-effectiveness of pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical interventions. All cost data were adjusted to the 2021 Euro, and interventions compared with null. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from January 2020 through 22 April 2021. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies regarding COVID-19 outbreak or public health preparedness measures or interventions with outcome measures related to the direct and indirect costs for disease and preparedness and/or response in countries of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of all relevant epidemiological designs which estimate cost within the selected time frame were considered eligible. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Studies were searched, screened and coded independently by two reviewers with high measure of inter-rater agreement. Data were extracted to a predefined data extraction sheet. The risk of bias was assessed using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria checklist. RESULTS: We included data from 41 economic studies. Ten studies evaluated the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, while 31 assessed the cost-benefit of public health surveillance, preparedness and response measures. Overall, the economic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic was found to be substantial. Community screening, bed provision policies, investing in personal-protective-equipment and vaccination strategies were cost-effective. Physical distancing measures were associated with health benefits; however, their cost-effectiveness was dependent on the duration, compliance and the phase of the epidemic in which it was implemented. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pandemic is associated with substantial short-term and long-term economic costs to healthcare systems, payers and societies, while interventions including testing and screening policies, vaccination and physical distancing policies were identified as those presenting cost-effective options to deal with the pandemic, dependent on population vaccination and the Re at the stage of the pandemic.

Adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of an online health sciences training program for brief smoking intervention: A pre-post study in four European countries.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco cessation intervention has a positive impact on quality of care. For health professionals, limited competency in this area may be associated with poor training during their academic programs. There is a clear need to further develop and implement training programs to improve tobacco cessation knowledge, skills, and attitudes among healthcare students. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the innovative online training program "Brief Intervention in Smoking Cessation" for healthcare students to improve their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. DESIGN: A pre-post evaluation study with a satisfaction assessment tool was used. SETTING: Seven universities from four European countries, including Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, participated. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand and seventy-two (1072) undergraduate students participated, with 851 completing the online program. METHODS: All participants completed the "Brief Intervention in Smoking Cessation" online program, which consisted of five theoretical modules, five videos, and three virtual simulation cases between January 2020 and June 2022. Knowledge was assessed by a multiple-choice test, and practical skills were assessed by a simulation algorithm, both of which were developed by education and smoking cessation experts. Competency was achieved when students successfully completed both assessments. Satisfaction was measured using an ad hoc 16-item questionnaire. Pre-post changes in knowledge were assessed using a paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of the students achieved smoking cessation competency. Students significantly improved their knowledge score on a scale of 0 to 10 points, with a mean pre-program score of 3.79 vs a mean post-program score of 7.33 ([-3.7 - -3.4] p < 0.001), acquiring sufficient attitudes and skills (simulation mean of 7.4 out of 10 points). Students were highly satisfied with the program (8.2 out of 10) and recommended it to other students (8.4 out of 10). CONCLUSIONS: The "Brief Intervention in Smoking Cessation" online training program is effective for the acquisition of smoking cessation competencies among European health profession students.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in mortality due to respiratory diseases: A comparative analysis of 2021 and 2020 vs 2019 in Spain / Impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la mortalidad por enfermedades respiratorias: análisis comparativo de 2021 y 2020 frente a 2019 en España

Introduction We previously reported an increase in respiratory mortality in 2020 in Spain after COVID-19. It is unclear if this rise is sustained in the longer-term. We aimed to determine whether respiratory mortality in 2021 in Spain returned to pre-pandemic levels. Material and methods In an observational, large study using official National Institute of Statistics data, we explored deaths due to respiratory diseases, that is, all causes of death by the standard WHO list of diseases of the respiratory system plus COVID-19, tuberculosis and lung cancer. Using the latest available official data of Spain, we analyzed changes in the mortality pattern in Spain from January 2019 to December 2021. We endorsed STROBE guidance for observational research. Results There were 98,714 deaths due to respiratory diseases in 2021 in Spain, corresponding to 21.9% of all deaths, becoming second in the ranking of causes of death. Respiratory diseases mortality in Spain has not returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, still with an increase of 30.3% (95% CI 30.2–30.4) compared to rates in 2019. All respiratory-specific causes of death decreased in 2021, except for lung cancer, that increased in women and decreased in men compared to 2019 (both p<0.05). In a multivariate analysis some established risk factors for respiratory diseases mortality were confirmed, such as male gender and older age; further, an association with reduced mortality in rural Spain was observed, still with a large geographical variability. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on deaths due to respiratory diseases and certain specific causes of death in 2021, and it has disproportionately affected certain regions (AU)

Introducción Previamente informamos de un aumento de la mortalidad respiratoria en 2020 en España tras la COVID-19. No está claro si este aumento se mantiene a largo plazo. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar si la mortalidad respiratoria en 2021 en España volvió a los niveles previos a la pandemia. Métodos En un gran estudio observacional con datos oficiales del Instituto Nacional de Estadística exploramos las muertes por enfermedades respiratorias, es decir, todas las causas de muerte según la lista estándar de enfermedades del sistema respiratorio de la Organización Mundial de la Salud más COVID-19, tuberculosis y cáncer de pulmón. Utilizando los últimos datos oficiales disponibles de España analizamos los cambios en el patrón de mortalidad en España desde enero de 2019 hasta diciembre de 2021. Seguimos la guía STROBE para investigación observacional. Resultados Se produjeron 98.714 muertes por enfermedades respiratorias en 2021 en España, lo que corresponde a 21,9% del total de muertes, situándose en el segundo lugar del ranking de causas de muerte. La mortalidad por enfermedades respiratorias en España no ha vuelto a los niveles previos a la pandemia en 2021, aun con un aumento de 30,3% (IC 95% 30,2-30,4) respecto a las tasas de 2019. Todas las causas de muerte específicas de las vías respiratorias disminuyeron en 2021, excepto el cáncer de pulmón, que aumentó en mujeres y disminuyó en hombres en comparación con 2019 (ambos p < 0,05). En un análisis multivariado se confirmaron algunos factores de riesgo establecidos para la mortalidad por enfermedades respiratorias, como el género masculino y la edad avanzada; además, se observó una asociación con la reducción de la mortalidad en la España rural, aun con una gran variabilidad geográfica. Conclusiones La pandemia de COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto duradero en las muertes por enfermedades respiratorias y ciertas causas específicas de muerte en 2021, y ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a ciertas regiones (AU)

Social determinants of health and vaccine uptake during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

Social determinants of health significantly impact population health status. The aim of this systematic review was to examine which social vulnerability factors or determinants of health at the individual or county level affected vaccine uptake within the first phase of the vaccination program. We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published from January 2020 until September 2021 in Medline and Embase (Bagaria et al., 2022) and complemented the review with an assessment of pre-print literature within the same period. We restricted our criteria to studies performed in the EU/UK/EEA/US that report vaccine uptake in the general population as the primary outcome and included various social determinants of health as explanatory variables. This review provides evidence of significant associations between the early phases of vaccination uptake for SARS-CoV-2 and multiple socioeconomic factors including income, poverty, deprivation, race/ethnicity, education and health insurance. The identified associations should be taken into account to increase vaccine uptake in socially vulnerable groups, and to reduce disparities in uptake, in particular within the context of public health preparedness for future pandemics. While further corroboration is needed to explore the generalizability of these findings across the European setting, these results confirm the need to consider vulnerable groups and social determinants of health in the planning and roll-out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programs and within the context of future respiratory pandemics.

Monitoring health and health behaviors among adolescents in Central Catalonia: DESKcohort protocol / Monitorización de la salud y los comportamientos de salud entre los adolescentes de la Cataluña Central: Protocolo DESKcohort

El objetivo de este estudio prospectivo de cohortes (proyecto DESKcohort) es describir y monitorizar la salud, los comportamientos de salud y sus factores asociados en los adolescentes de entre 12 y 19 años escolarizados en centros de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria o secundaria posobligatoria de la Cataluña Central, considerando los determinantes sociales de la salud. La encuesta DESKcohort se realiza bianualmente, entre los meses de octubre y junio, y el proyecto lleva 3 años en marcha. Se ha entrevistado a 7319 y 9265 adolescentes en los cursos 2019/20 y 2021/22, respectivamente. Respondieron un cuestionario creado por un comité de expertos, que incluía las siguientes variables: sociodemográficas, salud física y mental, alimentación, actividad física, ocio y movilidad, consumo de sustancias, relaciones interpersonales, sexualidad, uso de pantallas y entretenimiento digital, y juegos de azar. Los resultados son presentados a los centros educativos, las diputaciones, los municipios y las entidades sanitarias y del tercer sector para planificar, implementar y evaluar acciones de prevención y promoción de la salud que aborden las necesidades identificadas.(AU)

The objective of the prospective cohort study (the DESKcohort project) is to describe and monitor health, health behaviors, and their related factors among 12 and 19-year-old adolescents schooled at centers of Compulsory Secondary Education or post-compulsory secondary education in Central Catalonia, considering social determinants of health. The DESKcohort survey is administered biannually between the months of October and June, and the project has been running for three years. We have interviewed 7319 and 9265 adolescents in the academic years 2019/20 and 2021/22, respectively. They responded a questionnaire created by a committee of experts, that included the following variables: sociodemographic factors, physical and mental health, food, physical activity, leisure and mobility, substance use, interpersonal relationships, sexuality, screen use and digital entertainment, and gambling. The results are presented to educational centers, county councils, municipalities, and health and third sector entities to plan, implement, and evaluate prevention and health promotion actions that address the identified needs.(AU)

Exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke in private vehicles: Measurements in air and dust samples.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate airborne nicotine concentrations and nicotine, cotinine, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in settled dust from private cars in Spain and the UK. METHODS: We measured vapor-phase nicotine concentrations in a convenience sample of 45 private cars from Spain (N = 30) and the UK (N = 15) in 2017-2018. We recruited non-smoking drivers (n = 20), smoking drivers who do not smoke inside the car (n = 15), and smoking drivers who smoke inside (n = 10). Nicotine, cotinine, and three TSNAs (NNK, NNN, NNA) were also measured in settled dust in a random subsample (n = 20). We computed medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) of secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) compounds according to the drivers' profile. RESULTS: 24-h samples yielded median airborne nicotine concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ) (IQR:

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in mortality due to respiratory diseases: A comparative analysis of 2021 and 2020 vs 2019 in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: We previously reported an increase in respiratory mortality in 2020 in Spain after COVID-19. It is unclear if this rise is sustained in the longer-term. We aimed to determine whether respiratory mortality in 2021 in Spain returned to pre-pandemic levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In an observational, large study using official National Institute of Statistics data, we explored deaths due to respiratory diseases, that is, all causes of death by the standard WHO list of diseases of the respiratory system plus COVID-19, tuberculosis and lung cancer. Using the latest available official data of Spain, we analyzed changes in the mortality pattern in Spain from January 2019 to December 2021. We endorsed STROBE guidance for observational research. RESULTS: There were 98,714 deaths due to respiratory diseases in 2021 in Spain, corresponding to 21.9% of all deaths, becoming second in the ranking of causes of death. Respiratory diseases mortality in Spain has not returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, still with an increase of 30.3% (95% CI 30.2-30.4) compared to rates in 2019. All respiratory-specific causes of death decreased in 2021, except for lung cancer, that increased in women and decreased in men compared to 2019 (both p<0.05). In a multivariate analysis some established risk factors for respiratory diseases mortality were confirmed, such as male gender and older age; further, an association with reduced mortality in rural Spain was observed, still with a large geographical variability. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on deaths due to respiratory diseases and certain specific causes of death in 2021, and it has disproportionately affected certain regions.

Passive exposure and perceptions of smoke-free policies in hospital and university campuses among nursing students: A cross-sectional multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Outdoor smoke-free regulations reduce exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and help to denormalize tobacco use. As future key agents in health promotion, nursing students' attitudes should agree with tobacco-control policies. The objectives of this study were: 1) assess nursing students' exposure to SHS in nursing schools, 2) explore their perceptions of compliance with the existing smoke-free regulations in acute-care hospitals; and 3) describe their support for indoor and outdoor smoking bans on hospital and university campuses. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional multicenter study conducted in 2015-2016 in all 15 university nursing schools in Catalonia, Spain. A questionnaire gathered information on SHS exposure, awareness of the smoke-free regulation in acutecare hospitals, and support for smoke-free policies in indoor and outdoor areas of hospitals and university campuses. Participants were nursing students attending classes on the day of the survey. We performed descriptive analyses and calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Of 4381 respondents, 99.1% had seen people smoking in outdoor areas of their university campus, and 75.2% had been exposed to SHS on the campus (6.0% indoors and 69.2% outdoors). Nearly 60% were aware of the smoking regulation in place in acute-care hospitals. There was widespread support for smoke-free indoor hospital regulation (98.7%), but less support (64.8%) for outdoor regulations. Approximately 33% supported the regulation to make outdoor healthcare campuses smoke-free, which was higher among third-year students compared to first-year students (APR=1.41; 95% CI: 1.24-1.62), among never smokers (41.4%; APR=2.84; 95% CI: 2.21-3.64) compared to smokers, and among those who were aware of the regulation (38.4%; 95% CI: 1.37-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to SHS on university campuses is high. Nursing students express low support for strengthening outdoor smoking bans on hospital and university campuses. Interventions aiming to increase their support should be implemented.

Monitoring health and health behaviors among adolescents in Central Catalonia: DESKcohort protocol.

The objective of the prospective cohort study (the DESKcohort project) is to describe and monitor health, health behaviors, and their related factors among 12 and 19-year-old adolescents schooled at centers of Compulsory Secondary Education or post-compulsory secondary education in Central Catalonia, considering social determinants of health. The DESKcohort survey is administered biannually between the months of October and June, and the project has been running for three years. We have interviewed 7319 and 9265 adolescents in the academic years 2019/20 and 2021/22, respectively. They responded a questionnaire created by a committee of experts, that included the following variables: sociodemographic factors, physical and mental health, food, physical activity, leisure and mobility, substance use, interpersonal relationships, sexuality, screen use and digital entertainment, and gambling. The results are presented to educational centers, county councils, municipalities, and health and third sector entities to plan, implement, and evaluate prevention and health promotion actions that address the identified needs.