[Investigation of smoking status and tobacco control in hospital staffs in Shanghai during 2010-2011].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the current status of smoking in hospital staffs and their ability to participate in tobacco control, and therefore to increase their awareness and active behavior on tobacco control. METHODS: A total of 9330 hospital staffs from clinical, administrative, logistic and laboratory diagnosis departments in 78 hospitals located in various districts in Shanghai were surveyed with a questionnaire on smoking status and tobacco control from September 2010 to June 2011. The questionnaire mainly included the basic information and smoking status of the participants, as well as the tobacco control ability of the hospitals. RESULTS: The total smoking rate in Shanghai hospital staffs was 21.8% (2036/9330) .The proportion of smoking in males (χ(2) = 1751.09, P < 0.01) , in the 41-50 age group (χ(2) = 84.610, P < 0.01) and the associate degree (χ(2) = 509.068, P < 0.01) group were significant higher than those in the other groups. The most frequent reasons for smoking were relieving nervous tension which accounting for 40.5% (825/2036) and habits which accounting for 54.3% (1106/2036). The average score of the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was 3.75 ± 2.63, which was generally considered as mild dependence on nicotine. 56.9% (1158/2036) of the hospital staffs had the history of smoking cessation but the major reason for unwillingness to try quitting was worrying about failure to quit, which accounted for 67.9% (1382/2036). 94.3% (8798/9330) of the hospital staffs had a good awareness of common diseases associated with smoking, but only 33.7% (3144/9330) of them had a better comprehension of smoking cessation scientific methods, such as nicotine replacement drugs. 52.0% (3456/6643) of the doctors had asked patients whether they were smoking while only 24.9% (1654/6643) of them had suggested them to quit smoking. Even more, as many as 81.7% (5427/6643) of the doctors did not write orders of smoking cessation in their practice. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that it is necessary to carry out tobacco control training and to improve the awareness of tobacco control for hospital staffs, and more detailed instruction for smoke cessation and service are needed for the patients.