SMOKING ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOUR AND NICOTINE DEPENDENCE AMONG MENTAL HEALTH ACUTE INPATIENTS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Background: In 2008, mental health units in England went smoke-free by law. This study explores inpatients' experience with a smoke-free policy, their smoking behaviour, dependence, withdrawal and related issues. Material: Semi-structured interviews in a criterion sample of 15 inpatient smokers. Discussion: Patients generally approved of the smoke-free policy, provided they could smoke outside. Most participants had changed their smoking behaviour following admission. Most had little knowledge of nicotine dependence, reported a lack of structured support for smoking cessation, and a general interest in this being made available. Nicotine dependence was reportedly lower in the ward than in the home setting. Conclusions: More structured support is needed to ensure that opportunities for health promotion in a vulnerable population are not being missed.