The "Smoke-free hospital" project: prevalence of smokers in a large hospital in Pavia (Italy) from 2006 to 2010]

This study was conducted in the context of the "Smoke-free Hospital" project and its aims were to describe the prevalence of smokers among employees and patients of the Hospital of Pavia from 2006 to 2010, and to evaluate its determinants. The target population was represented by all employees (healthcare and other staff) and patients (inpatients and outpatients) of the Hospital of Pavia. Data collection took place by means of two self-administered and anonymous questionnaires (one for employees and one for patients). Overall, 3,996 employees and 2,301 patients completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of smokers among participating individuals remained largely unchanged in the observed period. The percentage of smokers among employees ranged from 21.88% in 2007 to 23% in 2006, while among patients it ranged from 16.67% in 2006 to 24.05% in 2008. Knowledge about tobacco-related issues was found to be poor and did not change over time. The low response rate did not allow us to generalize results to the entire target population. However, results indicate the need for health promotion campaigns both among hospital employees and among the general population, to raise awareness regarding the risks of tobacco smoking and to reduce the prevalence of smokers.