Table 4

 Beliefs about smoking bans for treatment staff, attendants/nurses, and patients

VariablesTreatment staffAttendants/nursesPatientsTotalSignificance
(n = 538)(n = 304)(n = 91)(n = 933)(χ2 test)
Preferred smoking policy (% agree)<0.001
    Doesn’t agree with any option7112010
    No explicit policy03183
    Moderate smoking restriction6796
    General no smoking policy (smoking only allowed in designated areas)67624563
    Complete smoking ban2017818
Perceived advantages of smoking restrictions (%)
    Healthier work environment81888181<0.001
    Decrease of annoyance from ETS66705066<0.005
    Clarity about where smoking is allowed48555151NS
    Decrease of somatic complaints by patients36382336<0.05
    Decrease of somatic complaints by employees35402335<0.05
    No advantages55156<0.001
Perceived disadvantages of smoking restrictions (%)
    Resistance from patients43536048<0.001
    Provoke patient distress36525643<0.001
    Practical problems36463940<0.05
    Restriction of patients’ freedom31444837<0.001
    Resistance from employees33402033<0.005
    Enforcement issues30412933<0.005
    Disruption of patient care19242521NS
    No disadvantages23131119<0.001
    Negative interaction with patients’ illness10241715<0.001
    Adverse effects on treatment outcomes12121112NS
Smoking has a strong calming effect on patients (%)<0.001
    Strong effect9163514
    Some effect65645364
    No effect26201222
You cannot take away patients’ cigarettes (% agree)36497244<0.001