[Smoking, vaping among hospital staff during the Covid-19 pandemic: Appraisal of the "tobacco-free hospital, campus" campaign in Brest]

INTRODUCTION

In the framework of a "tobacco-free hospital and campus" campaign, we conducted a study on the prevalence of smoking and vaping among a university hospital (CHRU) staff. The study took place in late 2020 (from 1 September to 15 December), and involved self-assessment of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on smoking.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire, which was distributed by email and QR code posting and included socio-professional details as well as data on participants' smoking and vaping.

RESULTS

There were 782 responses, representing a participation rate of 13.5%. The sample included 73.3% women and 22.7% men; 28.9% nurses, 24.9% medical staff, 3.6% nursing assistants and 42.6% other professional categories. The overall smoking rate was 13%. Sixty-two (7.9%) participants vaped; 37 (5%) vaped exclusively, 25 (3.2%) combined smoking and vaping. Men smoked more than women: 23.7% vs. 9.4% (P < 0.01). Medical staff smoked and vaped less than other categories; 6.2% vs 14.8% (P < 0.01) and 4.1% vs 9.1% respectively (P=0.02). Doctors were more often non-smokers: OR=2.71 (95% CI: 1.14-6.46). Among smokers, 25% said they had increased their cigarette consumption during the covid-19 pandemic, frequently as a means of combating stress or fatigue.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a lower smoking rate than in the literature, possibly due to the high participation of physicians. Ours were the initial estimates of vaping among hospital staff.

[Tobacco and work]

INTRODUCTION

Health indicators published over more than 15 years in France show differences in the prevalence of smoking in relation to activity status and socio-professional categories. However, the relationship between smoking and work is not limited to this.

BACKGROUND

Smoking by employees is traditionally regarded as entailing additional costs for businesses, but the actual costs of smoking in the workplace are difficult to assess. Co-exposure to tobacco and the toxic substances encountered in work areas carries an increased risk of developing lung disease, broncho-pulmonary cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in particular. The workplace can also be an area of exposure to passive smoking that affects employees unequally. In France, the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes in the workplace has been regulated since 2006 and 2016, respectively.

OUTLOOK

Workplace smoking cessation programs and smoking bans seem to encourage cessation of smoking. Smoking cessation advice by occupational physicians could work in the same manner. Subjects exposed to occupational carcinogens and tobacco could benefit from low-dose CT screening after a trial period to validate this approach.

CONCLUSION

Workplaces can be areas for the prevention and cessation of smoking.