Effect of a single group motivational intervention on smoking cessation among hospital workers

Objective: To evaluate efficiency of single group motivational intervention on smoking cessation among health and non health hospital workers. Methods: 9 informational talks on adverse effects, heath impact on smoking and offering help for quit, performed from February to December 2012 for health and non-health smokers workers at Valme Hospital in Seville. We collected demographic data, professional category, smoking history, previous attempts to give up tobacco, motivation by Richmond test and addiction by Fagerstrom test. Follow-up was carried out by review of medical records, face to face and telephone contact. Results: 54 subjects assist to talks, (6 men, 48 women) with an average age of 50 years (SD 6.0). Professional category was: 17 nurses (31,5%), 23 heath-care assistants (42.6%), 1 physician (1.9%) and 13 non-health workers (24%). 35 (64.8%) had a previous attempt to quit smoking and 60% did not use any therapy. Average value of Richmond test was 8.54 (SD 1.7) and average of Fargestrom Test was 6.1 (SD 2.3; range 1-10). The average accumulated consumption of tobacco was 34.1 packages per year (SD 14.9). 30 (55.6%) required pharmacologic treatment with varenicline, 4 (7.4%) with bupropion, 7 (13%) with NRT and 12 (22.1%) did not use pharmacological treatment. 17 (31.5%) stopped smoking for more than 12 months. Of these, 7 (41%) have at least one relapse in 6 years of follow-up and 11 (64.7%) remained without smoking at the end of follow-up. People satisfaction with the talks was 8.6/10 (SD 1.1). Conclusion: The motivational intervention was effective for smoking cessation among hospital workers with. Implementing regular smoking cessation talks in hospitals would be advised.