Conflito de interesses:Não Contribuição dos autores: DCSB coleta, tabulação, delineamento do estudo e redação do manuscrito. IJ delineamento do estudo e redação do manuscrito. TDS coleta, tabulação, delineamento do estudo e redação do manuscrito. CAS orientação do projeto, delineamento do estudo e elaboração do manuscrito. Contato para correspondência: Cristiane Aparecida Silveira E-mail: casilve@yahoo.com.
Abstract Introduction:Tobacco use is one of the major problems faced by the public health nowadays, even among health personnel.Objective: Identify the tobacco use, nicotine dependence, and motivation to quit tobacco among the nursing staff. Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive, quantitative, and epidemiologic study carried out at a general hospital. We interviewed 94 nursing team members using three instruments: one semi-structured for sample characterization; the Fagerstrom Test to evaluate the dependence, and the Richmond Test to evaluate the motivation to quit smoking. Results: The study sample was composed of 94 nursing team members. Of these, 15 (15.95%) were smokers and 79 (84.05%) nonsmokers. Eleven members (73.33%) have been using tobacco for more than 10 years, nine (60.00%) started using it at an age ranging from 15 to 19, 8 (53.33%) make use of tobacco by "habit." Everyone knows the consequences and complications of the continued use. We observed a statistically significant association in having a technical background and being a smoker and working as a technician e being a smoker. We also observed a tendency for a statistically significant association between being a smoker and the working time in the institution. Regarding the degree of tobacco dependence, nine (60.00%) had low tobacco dependence e 10 (66.67%) low motivation to quit smoking. The mean age of the smokers was 34.4 years old, seven (46.67%) were between 28 a 37 years old, 13 (86.67%) were women, 13 (86.67%) were licensed practical nurses, seven (46.67%) worked in the infirmary, and five (33.33%) have been working in the sector from seven to 12 months. The mean age of the nonsmokers was 31.7 years old, 32 (40.51%) were between 28 to 37 years old, 71 (89.87%) were women, 38 (48.10%) had technical qualification, 34 (43.04%) worked in the infirmary, and 25 (31.65%) have been working in the sector from seven to 12 months. Conclusion: Interventions for tobacco cessation are needed. Among many measures, one is to adopt an anti-smoking policy within the hospital environment in order to provide improvement in the quality of life and of work.