Hospital no-smoking policy could increase smoking cessation rate among preoperative patients

BACKGROUND: Although it is well known that a no-smoking policy can reduce smoking rate among hospital employees, the effect of this policy on patients' smoking behavior has not been examined. METHODS: Starting on the world no-tobacco day in 2001, the Sakai Municipal Hospital changed partial no-smoking policy into complete no-smoking policy. In this study, we examined the effect of this policy change on patients' smoking status during preoperative period. At preoperative visit, we asked a patient a change of smoking status during preoperative period. The change of patients' smoking status was compared between before and after coming into effect of no-smoking policy. RESULTS: Smoking rates at first visit to out-patient clinic of each surgical department before and after coming into effect of no-smoking policy were 35.6%(36/101) and 41.8%(28/67), respectively (P=0.317). Among these smokers, smoking cessation rates at preoperative visit before and after coming into effect of no-smoking policy were 44.4%(16/36) and 75.0%(21/28), respectively (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The hospital no-smoking policy has a strong effect on improvement of patients' smoking behavior during preoperative period.