Tobacco-free campuses – a pipe dream? A survey of current smoking cessation practice in mental health units in Ireland

TL;DR

This study examines smoking policies in Irish mental health units and finds low adherence to tobacco-free policies and strong support for using e-cigarettes as a quitting aid.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into smoking cessation practices and staff attitudes toward e-cigarettes in mental health settings in Ireland.

Findings

Only 5% of mental health units enforce the HSE's tobacco-free campus policy.

55% of units support using e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool for patients.

There is a need to revise and better enforce smoking policies in Irish hospitals.

Abstract

Smoking and vaping are prohibited on Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) campuses. The HSE states that there is no evidence to suggest vaping is less damaging than cigarettes. Recent meta-analyses have shown that e-cigarettes are in fact less dangerous and can help smokers quit. Our study analyses the current smoking policies in place in mental health ‘approved centres’ in Ireland, what is being done to help smokers quit while in-patients and the level of support among staff for the introduction of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction tool. Clinical nurse managers from each mental health approved centre were surveyed to assess adherence to smoking policies.

Only 5% of surveyed units enforce the HSE's Tobacco Free Campus Policy; 55% of units supported the idea of using e-cigarettes to help patients quit cigarettes.

Ireland's hospital campuses are not tobacco free. Changes need to be made to our smoking policies and their enforcement.

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