EXPERIENCE WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF NON SMOKING POLICY INTO ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC WARD IN MILITARY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Abstract
The number of smokers in the Czech population is around 25-30%. In the population of people with mental illness, the number of smokers is 2 times higher.
Tobacco dependence is a very important preventable factor associated with a higher risk of many serious diseases. People with mental illness die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population.
Despite the above facts, completely non-smoking psychiatric wards in the Czech Republic are rather the exception. There are numbers of barriers and prejudices preventing the emergence of non-smoking psychiatric workplaces.
In this article we describe specific experiences with the introduction of non-smoking environment at the psychiatric ward at UVN. There, after the introduction of a total smoking ban, we tried to monitor various parameters showing the possible impact of this measure on life on wards.
We have noticed the reactions of staff and patients, the cost of nicotine replacement therapy, patient satisfaction, the growth of conflicts. We present our findings in our text, which may be a motivation for other workplaces or at least an inspiration to reflect on the many myths that accompany smoking restrictions in psychiatric wards.