Introduction: The current study aims to identify enablers and barriers to implementing smoke-free NHS hospital grounds through a hospital staff survey.
Methods: Staff members from eight acute care NHS trusts in Greater Manchester were invited to complete a 15-minute web-based questionnaire.
Results: Five-hundred and eighty-eight participants completed the questionnaire. Nineteen per cent (114/588) of respondents were current smokers and 10% (61/588) were currently vaping. Sixty per cent (68/114) smoked at work and 66% (40/61) vaped at work. Sixty-seven per cent (314/468) supported dedicated on-site tobacco addiction treatment services for hospital staff with specific support for drop-in clinics and free pharmacotherapy for staff. Sixty-one per cent (290/477) and 67% (318/477) strongly agreed / agreed that patients/visitors and staff, respectively, should not smoke on hospital grounds. Seventeen per cent (83/484) had received training in very brief advice. Thirty-five per cent (190/547) felt vaping was less harmful than smoking, 19% (92/472) felt exhaled vapour was likely to be safe to bystanders, 36% (172/475) would support vaping-friendly hospital grounds and 31% (37/120) felt confident in discussing vaping.
Discussion: Enablers to a smoke-free NHS site include dedicated tobacco addiction services for staff and empowering staff through appropriate training to support smokers on the hospital grounds. Barriers include the lack of awareness and support for the harm reduction benefits of vaping.
Keywords: smoke free; tobacco dependency.
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