Impact of a total smoking ban in a high secure hospital
Cormac, Irene Creasey, Sandra Ferriter, Michael Huckstep, Bernard D'Silva, Karen
Cormac, Irene
Creasey, Sandra
Ferriter, Michael
Huckstep, Bernard
D'Silva, Karen
Abstract
Aims and method: To assess the impact of a total smoking ban in a high secure psychiatric hospital. Staff and patients were surveyed before and after implementation. Data were collected on untoward incidents, seclusions, nicotine replacement therapy and changes in psychotropic medication. Results: Of the 298 patients in the hospital for the evaluation period, 72.8% were smokers before the ban. There were no significant differences in rates of seclusion before and after the ban and only one significant comparison (P = 0.01) showed an increase in untoward incidents for smokers. There were no significant increases in the use of psychotropic medication after the ban. Clinical implications: With adequate preparation, it is possible to implement a total smoking ban in a high secure psychiatric setting without serious negative consequences. Declaration of interest: None.
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Date
2010
Type
Article
Subject
Smoking, High security facilities, Psychiatric hospitals
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Citation
Cormac, I., Creasey, S., McNeill, A., Ferriter, M., Huckstep, B. & D'Silva, K. (2010). Impact of a total smoking ban in a high secure hospital. The Psychiatrist, 34 (10), pp.413-417.