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Tobacco dependence, treatment and smoke-free policies: a survey of mental health professionals' knowledge and attitudes - 20/08/11

Doi : 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2009.08.003 
Elena Ratschen, M.P.H. a, , John Britton, M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.P., F.F.P.H. a , Gillian A. Doody, M.B., B.S., M.Phil. M.D. M.R.C.Psych. b , Jo Leonardi-Bee, Ph.D. a , Ann McNeill, Ph.D. a
a Clinical Sciences Building, University of Nottingham, City Hospital, NG5 1PB Nottingham, UK 
b Division of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Duncan McMillan House, NG3 6AA Nottingham, UK 

Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 115 823 1700.

Abstract

Background

Mental health inpatient units in England have to be smoke-free by law. Preliminary studies have indicated that staff may not have the necessary knowledge and resources to support the implementation of a smoke-free policy.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate staff knowledge and attitudes relating to smoking prevalence, dependence, treatment and the relationship between smoking and mental illness.

Design

This study used a questionnaire survey for all the clinical staff of 25 inpatient mental health units of a UK National Health Service mental health Trust.

Results

Four hundred fifty-nine (68%) staff returned the questionnaire. Less than half (42%) of the participants agreed that dealing with patients' smoking was their responsibility as a mental health professional, and only half (50%) asserted that they could make time to treat smoking in their working routine. All professional groups demonstrated a lack of knowledge about tobacco dependence, treatment and its relation with mental illness, with healthcare assistants being least knowledgeable overall. Nevertheless, 41% of doctors were unaware that smoking can decrease blood levels of antipsychotic medications, and 36% were unaware that stopping smoking could reduce the dose needed. Staff overestimated the prevalence of smoking in the general population, and over a third (36.4%) believed that nicotine was carcinogenic. Staff smoking prevalence was 26% (10% of doctors, 22% of other qualified staff and 37% of nonqualified staff), and smokers were more likely to have reservations about the importance of the smoke-free policy and the treatment of nicotine dependence among patients. Reported participation in training was associated with greater knowledge related to some items of the questionnaire.

Conclusions

Support for inpatient smokers by staff is likely to be severely compromised by low levels of knowledge and awareness of tobacco dependence. Further training and support for all staff groups are urgently required.

El texto completo de este artículo está disponible en PDF.

Keywords : Tobacco dependence, Smoke-free policy, Staff knowledge, Attitudes


Esquema


 The authors E.R., G.A.D. and A.M. hold honorary contracts with the Trust in which the study was carried out. All authors have nothing else to declare.
 We've developed this section to recognize that in this competitive era of scientific investigation and publication, it is important to encourage trainees at formative stages of their careers to do research and publish. We will encourage reviewers for this new section to recognize articles submitted by trainees and to review them with that in mind. It will be important for reviewers of these manuscripts to see their role as teachers in addition to reviewing papers critically with the aim of helping trainees improve the quality of their work.


© 2009  Elsevier Inc. Reservados todos los derechos.
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Vol 31 - N° 6

P. 576-582 - novembre 2009 Regresar al número
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