Feasibility of the novel ‘Tobacco‑Free Hospital’ model and its compliance assessment at a tertiary care hospital of New Delhi, India
نویسندگان
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5 International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), South‑East Asia Office, New Delhi, India
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doi
چکیده
BACKGROUND: Tobacco is one of the biggest threats to the public health. Tobacco harms not onlyhuman health but also the environment. The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) wasimplemented in India in 2003. Compliance of these laws in public places is mandatory. This studypresents an innovative model to make hospitals tobacco‑free. The aim is to assess the effectivenessof implementation of tobacco‑free hospitals among security guards, tobacco users, and key observersvisiting a tertiary care dental hospital through a comprehensive strategy.MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exploratory study was conducted in three phases. Structuredtraining was organized for all security guards (n = 25) along with pre‑ and post‑assessment usinga validated questionnaire. All the patients and attendants entering the hospital were screenedfor tobacco products by security guards. Those patients who were carrying tobacco productsto the hospital (n = 107) were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Opinions of keyobservers (n = 223) who witnessed the event were also recorded. Descriptive statistics (means,frequency distribution) and inferential statistics (Chi‑square test) were calculated.RESULTS: At the baseline, only 20% security guards were aware about tobacco legislations, whereasafter 1 month, more than 80% security guards were aware about the laws. Around two‑third of studyparticipants of both the groups were aware of COTPA Section 4. Approximately 33.6% of tobaccousers and 58.4% of key observers were aware of COTPA Section 6b. Forty tobacco users in thestudy availed tobacco cessation services of the hospital.CONCLUSION: Every staff should be a torch bearer of tobacco control. The study highlightsa comprehensive approach of integrating hospital staff and linking vital cessation services byimplementing Sections of COTPA.
