Determining The Relationship Between Smoking Habits and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors of Health Workers: Smoke-Free Hospital, Healthy Life

Abstract

Aim: Using tobacco and tobacco products is an important public health issue. This study aims to determine the smoking status of hospital staff and to examine the relationship between their smoking habits and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between March and September 2018 with 387 health workers in Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital affiliated to Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University. Data were collected using the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, which were applied via face-to-face interview technique to health workers who accepted to participate in the study. Results: The study sample consisted of 387 health workers. Of them, 58.7% of the participants were exposed to smoking in the workplace, and 75.9% of the nonsmokers were exposed to smoking environment, which was statistically significantly high. A statistically significant difference was found between the health workers’ Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale mean scores with respect to gender, smoking status, being in a smoking environment, and duration of smoking. Conclusion: Determining the relationship between smoking habits and healthy lifestyle behaviors of health workers, identifying their negative or incomplete behaviors in this regard, and developing training and support programs for their relevant needs are considered to positively affect the images of health workers in society, and thus to increase healthcare quality and satisfaction. Keywords: health personnel, smoking cessation, healthy lifestyle