PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Montse Ballbè
AU  - Gemma Nieva
AU  - Sílvia Mondon
AU  - Cristina Pinet
AU  - Eugeni Bruguera
AU  - Esteve Saltó
AU  - Esteve Fernández
AU  - Antoni Gual
AU  - and the Smoking and Mental Health Group
TI  - Smoke-free policies in psychiatric services: identification of unmet needs
AID  - 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050029
DP  - 2012 Nov 01
TA  - Tobacco Control
PG  - 549--554
VI  - 21
IP  - 6
4099  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/6/549.short
4100  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/21/6/549.full
SO  - Tob Control2012 Nov 01; 21
AB  - Introduction Smoke-free policies have been extended to enclosed workplaces in many countries; however, smoking continues to be commonly allowed on psychiatric premises. The aim of this study was to describe tobacco control strategies undertaken in psychiatric inpatient services and day centres in Spain. Methods This cross-sectional survey included all psychiatric service centres that offered public services in Catalonia, Spain (n=192). Managers responded to a questionnaire of 24 items that covered four dimensions, including clinical intervention, staff training and commitment, smoking area management and communication of smoke-free policies. Results A total of 186 managers (96.9%) completed the questionnaire. Results showed low tobacco control in psychiatric services: 41.0% usually intervened in patient tobacco use, 34.1% had interventional pharmacotherapy available and 38.9% had indoor smoking areas. Day centres showed the lowest implementation of tobacco control measures. Out of 186 managers, 47.3% stated that the staff had insufficient knowledge on smoking cessation interventions. Conclusions The former Spanish partial law has not been sufficiently successful in promoting tobacco control in psychiatric services. There is room for improvement in tobacco control policies, specifically in smoking interventions, staff training and resource availability.