Hospitals across Canada have strict no-smoking policies, but how are patients addicted to nicotine faring in these circumstances?
Researchers tried to find some answers by questioning patients, health-care professionals and other staff at two large acute-care hospitals -- the University of Alberta Hospital and Winnipeg's Health Science Centre.
Smoke-free policies often prohibit smoking near entrances, in parking lots or anywhere on hospital grounds. The researchers found non-compliance, as well as inadequate treatment for
tobacco dependence.
"Just because you put this kind of policy into place doesn't mean people are just going to quit smoking," said co-author Annette Schultz, an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba's faculty of nursing. She's also an ex-smoker who has worked in primary-care settings.
The paper appeared Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
