Going tobacco free can be hard for healthcare facilities

Enforcing a tobacco-free policy that prohibits all people from using tobacco in healthcare facilities and on campus grounds can be complicated, according to an article on the Science Daily website.

Through a one-year, approximately $50,000 grant from the South Dakota Department of Health, a research team surveyed South Dakota healthcare facilities to examine their tobacco policies.

"We wanted to work more with healthcare facilities on tobacco evidence-based interventions," said Kiley Hump, administrator of the S. D. Department of Health's Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "If they ask about tobacco use, do they then give tobacco users advice and referrals to services that will help them quit? If so, how do they do that?"

Facilities provided copies of their tobacco- or smoke-free policy. Research teams looked for a strong, comprehensive policy that was clearly communicated to those who work at or visit the facility. Then they evaluated how complete the tobacco ban was, including what specific products were prohibited, such as chewing tobacco.

Read the article.