Smoking Habits and Attitudes toward Smoking in Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Residential Facilities in Insular Greece

Healthcare · 4 authors, 3 centres

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TL;DR

This cross-sectional study of 103 patients with severe mental illness in residential facilities in Greece found that 68.9% were current smokers, with high daily consumption and long smoking histories. Patients reported difficulty quitting and many desired help, but only half had been advised by a physician to quit, highlighting a gap in cessation support.

Full summary

797 CHARS

Using a questionnaire-based cross-sectional design, the authors assessed smoking prevalence, cessation attempts, and perceptions of smoking within the facility environment. Key results showed that 87.4% had smoked in the past, and 68.9% of the total sample were current regular smokers, starting at a mean age of 21.6 years and smoking for 29.3 years on average. Among smokers, 64.8% had tried to quit, and 57.7% believed they would need help to do so. However, only 50.7% had been advised by a physician to quit. Patients generally agreed that smoking causes harm and supported smoking restrictions, yet 70.9% had observed staff smoking at work. Correlations showed that longer facility stays were associated with current smoking, quit attempts, and stronger beliefs about smoking's health risks.

STUDY TYPE

cross-sectional

SPECIALTY

epidemiology

SUMMARISED BY

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FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10001183

Smoking Habits and Attitudes toward Smoking in Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Residential Facilities in Insular Greece

Healthcare

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Smoking may contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The objective of the present study is to explore the attitudes toward smoking in patients with severe mental illness in residential rehabilitation facilities in insular Greece. The patients (n = 103) were studied with the use of a questionnaire based on a semi-structured interview. Most of the participants (68.3%) were current regular smokers, had been smoking for 29 years and started smoking at an early age. The majority (64.8%) reported having tried to quit smoking in the past, and only half had been advised by a physician to quit. The patients agreed on the rules for smoking and believed that the staff should avoid smoking in the facility. The years of smoking were statistically significantly correlated to the educational level and the treatment with antidepressant medication. A statistical analysis showed that longer stay period in the facilities correlates with current smoking, an effort to quit and increased belief that smoking causes harm to health. Further research on the attitudes of patients in residential facilities toward smoking is needed, which could guide interventions for smoking cessation and should be assumed by all health professionals who are involved in the care of those patients. Keywords: attitudes and habits, mental healthcare staff, residential rehabilitation facilities, schizophrenia, severe mental illness, smoking

CITATION EXPORT

Ioanna Botsari, Georgia Marouli, Aikaterini Arvanitaki et al.. Smoking Habits and Attitudes toward Smoking in Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Residential Facilities in Insular Greece. Healthcare. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050642

AUTHORS

4 · 3 CENTRES

Ioanna Botsari, Georgia Marouli, Aikaterini Arvanitaki, Vaios Peritogiannis

1“Skitali” Day Center, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, 45445 Ioannina, Greece
2“Agia Eirini” General Hospital of Corfu, 49100 Corfu, Greece
3Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, 45445 Ioannina, Greece

Ioanna Botsari, Georgia Marouli, Aikaterini Arvanitaki et al.. Smoking Habits and Attitudes toward Smoking in Patients with Severe Mental Illness in Residential Facilities in Insular Greece. Healthcare. (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11050642