Medical students' contribution to the development of a smoke-free hospital policy in a university medical centre: a relevant learning experience

Abstract

In a research methodology course, second-year medical students conducted a survey on 'Enforcing a Smoking Ban in the Soroka Medical Center: a Survey of Hospital Employees on Facilitating Factors and Obstacles'. They defined the study objectives and design, developed the study instrument, carried out the survey, coded and entered the data into mainframe computers, analysed the computer output, and prepared oral and written reports. The aims of the project were twofold: to survey employees' attitudes to a hospital smoking ban and to train medical students in the planning and conduct of a research project on public health or preventive medicine. Twelve students conducted a cross-sectional survey of 208 hospital employees (10% of the hospital staff). Employees were surveyed regarding smoking status, interest in quitting smoking, knowledge of the law banning smoking in public places, knowledge of the health effects of passive smoking, attitudes towards a hospital smoking ban and potential obstacles to its implementation. The students rated the course as excellent. They gained important research skills, as well as practical medical and public health experience through active participation in the design and execution of a study project with public health implications. At the first meeting of the hospital committee appointed to enforce a smoke-free hospital, the students' findings were reported in full, and their recommendations have guided policy decisions.

Smoking among Greek nurses and their readiness to quit

“…Nurses employed in hospital settings are considered to set a poor example of health‐promoting behaviours if they smoke (Sperber et al. 1995) and they have the potential unintentionally to negatively influence the smoking behaviour of others through behaviour modelling (Bandura 1986).…”

Smoking behavior among hospital staff still influences attitudes and counseling on smoking

“…Smoking is more prevalent among patients in hospitals than in the general population (Sperber et al, 1995). Because patients often are highly motivated to change their lifestyle in order to improve their health, for example, by giving up smoking (Emmons & Goldstein, 1992), hospitals seem to be a good platform for intervention against smoking (Emmons & Goldstein, 1992;Raw, McNeill, & West, 1999;Sperber et al, 1995).…”

“…Because patients often are highly motivated to change their lifestyle in order to improve their health, for example, by giving up smoking (Emmons & Goldstein, 1992), hospitals seem to be a good platform for intervention against smoking (Emmons & Goldstein, 1992;Raw, McNeill, & West, 1999;Sperber et al, 1995). The most costeffective and well-documented methods for smoking cessation are professional advice combined with nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion.…”

Smoking: Rates and attitudes among nursing staff in central Sydney

“…Smokers employed in hospital settings set a poor example of health‐promoting behaviours 12 but, more importantly, such smokers have the potential to unintentionally affect the smoking behaviour of others through behaviour modelling. 13 There is evidence that smoking behaviour by health professionals acts as a barrier to the use of brief interventions, such as providing opportunistic advice.…”