# Spotlight on nurses' smoking prevalence and addiction in Istanbul, Türkiye, the leading country in the implementation of WHO MPOWER policies

## TL;DR

This study examines smoking habits among nurses in Istanbul, finding a notable prevalence despite Turkey's leadership in implementing WHO anti-smoking policies.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into smoking prevalence and nicotine dependence among nurses in a country actively promoting tobacco control.

## Key findings

- Smoking prevalence among nurses was 32.7%, with males showing higher rates.
- Only 27.6% of nurses who tried to quit smoking received professional help.
- Hookah use was linked to cigarette smoking among nurses.

## Abstract

Türkiye is the leading country that has been applying the MPOWER criteria of the World Health Organization for years. However, the prevalence of smoking among nurses appears to be high, according to the literature. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence, addiction levels, and dynamics of tobacco smoking among nurses in Türkiye.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a questionnaire (prepared in cooperation with the “World Health Organization”) and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence were administered to 529 nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital in 2020. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors predicting smoking.

The prevalence of smoking among nurses was 32.7% (n = 173). The mean Fagerström test score indicated a "low dependence" level (score: 3 ± 2.6). Both results were higher for males. A relationship was found between trying smoking cigarette and hookah. Of the “current smokers” group, 102 (60.4%) stated that they wanted to quit smoking. Only 21 (27.6%) of the nurses who have tried to quit smoking thus far have received professional help.

The prevalence of smoking among nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital was relatively low compared to that among nurses in Türkiye. While females are normally expected to smoke less, the high prevalence of smoking among nurses (most of them female) raises the question of the professional basis of this situation. However, the low rate of receiving professional help reveals the lack of promotion and accessibility of smoking cessation outpatient clinics in the faculty environment. Finally, the perception that hookah is an alternative tobacco product leads to cigarette smoking. The good news was that nurses had a low dependency rate.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-024-02166-7.