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Cigarette smoking among nurses remains a public health concern despite a recent decline in current smoking prevalence. We recruited 149 registered nurses into a no-cost, targeted, self-help smoking cessation program supplemented by a supportive worksite environmental module. The study was designed to expand understanding of nurses' smoking and to measure program effectiveness. Follow-ups were conducted at one, six and 12 months post-intervention to assess self-reported smoking status (92% objectively validated) and predictors of cessation. Point prevalence abstinence at these time points (22.5%, 21.5% and 19.5%), continuous abstinence (12.7%), and an ever-quit rate of 57% (i.e., quit for at least 48 hours), compare favorably to population quit rates and to rates reported for other self-help programs. Logistic regression analyses were utilized to identify predictors of short-term cessation [time before needing a cigarette, concern regarding the health hazards of smoking, working in a critical care setting, use of targeted weight manual] and long-term cessation [dosage (inverse relationship), use of standard American Lung Association maintenance manual, working with dying patients, and M.D.s' opposition to upgrading nursing service (inverse relationship)].

SUMMARY1. The washout of 22Na, 45Ca and 58CoEDTA-has been observed in arterially perfused rabbit interventricular septa both in the presence and absence ofintoxicating doses of the aglycone, 3 acetylstrophanthidin (ACS).2. The washout of 22Na from paced septa (21P0/min) was rapid with approximately 99 % of the exchange occurring in 30 min.3. Septa labelled with 22Na and washed out in the presence of 10-5 M-ACS were quiescent, exhibited marked contracture and a slowed 22Na exchange with 99 % of the initial 22Na leaving the tissue in approximately 200 min.4. Comparison of the washout of the extracellular marker 58CoEDTA-from paced and intoxicated septa revealed no differences, suggesting that regions of the extracellular space had not become inexchangeable as a result of the contracture that these septa exhibited.5. Simultaneous measurements of the distribution of 22Na and 58CoEDTA-in the presence of 10-5 M-ACS revealed an apparent cellular Na concentration of 54-8 + 10-4 (S.E.). This was considerably in excess of the maximum amount of Na contributing to the slowest component of Na efflux from intoxicated septa. Origins of this discrepancy are considered.6. The slowest component of 22Na efflux from intoxicated septa could be markedly stimulated by increasing the external Ca concentration from a nominal 1-5 to 16 mM.The magnitude of stimulation was 44-3 + 7-8 % (S.E.). Increases in the concentration of Mg from 1-0 to 16-0 mm were without effect on the 22Na efflux.7. Application of 10-5 M-ACS produced marked depolarization of the membrane to new stable levels that lay between -10 and -20 mV.8. Washout of ACS after several hours of intoxication resulted in a partial decline in contracture tension, an acceleration of Ca efflux, little change in 22Na efflux and a repolarization of the cell membrane.

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