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- Published on: 16 October 2023
- Published on: 16 October 2023Developing Smoke Free Policies in Specialist Settings – the nexus of policy and practice.
NOT PEER REVIEWED
Despite 20 years of sustained engagement and reductions in smoking prevalence rates globally, smoke free policy implementation remains inconsistently applied in low- and middle-income countries where there are high smoking prevalence rates and where >80% of the 1.3 billion smokers reside.1-2 Merrit’s study3 is a stark reminder that despite the forward steps of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,2,4-5 variations in achieving smoke free policies in specialist settings persist. Acknowledged challenges in implementing smoke free hospital policies include a lack of data, inadequate reporting, and reduced prioritisation of tobacco control at governmental level.1,3 The lack of an intersectional lens and co development with communities continues with policy development. 6
Inconsistencies in application of smoke free policies are balanced by reporting of positive implementations demonstrating improvements in some hospital systems evidenced by reductions in smoking rates and improved access to smoking cessation services underpinned by longitudinal data. 7-9
Previously, Chan 10 indicated that ‘tobacco use … threatens development in every country on every level and across many sectors — economic growth, health, education, poverty and the environment — with women and children bearing the brunt of the consequences’, - this continues today intensifying the impact of the social, structural and commercial determinants of health and n...
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None declared.