[The status of smoking cessation support by nurses in general hospitals, and related factors].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the status of smoking cessation support by nurses in general hospitals, as well as related factors METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey of 1,206 nurses working in three hospitals (inpatient and outpatient departments), and received 830 valid responses. We collected information in the following areas: sociodemographics, smoking status, work-related stress, experience of learning how to support smoking cessation, knowledge about smoking hazards and methods of assistance with quitting smoking, attitudes towards supporting smoking cessation, subjective norms to support smoking cessation, self-efficacy in smoking cessation support, intention to smoking cessation support, and status of smoking cessation support(Five "A's"). Multiple regression analysis was performed in order to identify factors related to status of smoking cessation support. We explained to subjects, both in verbal and written form, the purpose of the study, maintenance of anonymity, and the data handling and protection of confidentiality. RESULTS: Nurses who asked patients about their smoking status (Ask) accounted for 87.8% of the total, and 88.4% advised them to quit smoking (Advice). A total of 67.5% assessed the intentions of patients to quit (Assess), 66.6% assisted their attempts to quit (Assist), and 53.3% arranged programs to prevent patients from slipping back into the habit (Arrange). The positive influential factors on "Assess" were work-related stress, attitudes, self-efficacy and intention. The positive influential factors for "Assist" were age, experience of learning, self-efficacy, intension. For "Arrange" they were attitudes, self-efficacy and intention. The results suggested that hospital nurses showed positive attitudes towards supporting smoking cessation and were highly motivated. On the other hand, 37.1% had not yet learned methods to support smoking cessation, particularly nicotine replacement therapy, the stages of cessation, and counseling methods and self-efficacy of the support related to them was low. CONCLUSIONS: In order to encourage nurses to "Assess", "Assist", and "Arrange", it is necessary to spread training programs which raise self-efficacy.