ABSTRACT
Introduction
Despite the fact that patients with severe mental illness (SMI) have high rates of smoking and an increased standardised mortality, there is virtually no information about attitudes to smoking bans in mental health units from countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Aim
To assess support for, and attitudes towards, a proposed total smoking ban in psychiatric wards among mental health clinicians in Qatar.
Method
Cross-sectional survey of mental health professionals working in Qatar’s primary mental health service.
Results
response rate was 68% (353/520). Support for a ban was assessed with a single item question; 73% of respondents supported a ban with opposition significantly (p<0.05) associated with being a current smoker, a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) national, a psychiatrist versus a mental health nurse or allied health professional and not receiving smoking cessation training in the last 5 years. A 21-item questionnaire assessed attitudes to a total smoking ban. It showed marked ambivalence with multiple linear regression identifying MENA nationality, male gender and current smoking status as independent variables influencing attitudes. The most strongly held attitude supporting a ban was concern about passive smoking and against a ban was concern it may increase patient agitation. Qualitative data confirmed ambivalent views.
Discussion
The results show similarities and differences to research from other countries suggesting that cultural factors influence some attitudes to smoke-free policies.
Implications for Practice
Staff support and smoking cessation education are necessary to achieve more consistent staff attitudes to support smoke-free policies.