Influence of a tobacco-free hospital campus policy on smoking status of hospital employees

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the influence of a tobacco-free hospital campus (TFHC) policy on employee smoking behavior.

Design: Questionnaires immediately prior to, 6 months after, and 1 year after implementation of a TFHC policy.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital system.

Subjects: A cohort of smokers and recent quitters.

Measures: Smoking status, quit attempts, influence of TFHC policy.

Analysis: Descriptive.

Results: From 2024 employees who responded to an initial online survey prior to implementation of a TFHC policy, 307 respondents reported either current smoking or quitting smoking within the past 6 months. Of these, 210 (68%) agreed to follow-up surveys at 6 and 12 months post-policy implementation. At each of the three times, between 15% and 18.5% of the cohort reported not smoking, with at least 48% of those not smoking reporting 6 to 12 months continuous abstinence. Sixty percent or more of those who reported quit attempts or not smoking indicated that the TFHC policy was influential in their efforts.

Conclusions: A TFHC policy may lead to increased employee smoking quit attempts and successful cessation. Health care facilities should broaden smoking restrictions to include the entire workplace campus, not only to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, but also to increase tobacco cessation.