EPV878
Health professionals` attitudes on smoking and cessation policies in forensic psychiatric hospitals
H. Ryynänen 1, P. Sandström 1, H. Anthoni 1, S. Eskelinen 2, J. Niemi 3,*, E. Kivilinna 3, P. Korhonen 4, N. Tusa 4, T. Vasankari 1 5
1Finnish Lung Health Association, 2Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, 3Vanha Vaasa Hospital, Vaasa, 4Niuvanniemi Hospital, Kuopio, 5Respiratory diseases and allergology, Turku University, Turku, Finland
Introduction: Smoking is highly prevalent among patients with severe mental illnesses. Even though smoking cessation is known to improve both physical and mental health, smoking remains highly prevalent in Finnish psychiatric hospitals, while local policies and practices often fail to place sufficient emphasis on this. This study was conducted as a part of the Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases -project (JA PreventNCD).
Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore mental health personnel’s attitudes on the challenges and opportunities related to current smoking policies, and cessation practices, in two forensic psychiatric hospitals in Finland, which are the only state mental hospitals in the country.
Methods: Data was collected from psychiatry personnel (health professionals) with an online survey during February and March 2025. Questions (open, multiple choice, numeric rating scale 1-10) included self-evaluation of attitudes, smoking cessation skills, smoking policies, and opinion on smoke/nicotine free psychiatric hospitals.
Results: In total, 163 Health professionals answered the survey (response rate 25 %). Respondents rated the importance of cessation work on the numeric scale at 7.1, and skills in cessation support at 5.9 (image 1). Most respondents reported bringing up the use of nicotine products with their patients during their hospitalization quite regularly or always (89 %), but e.g. use of smoking dependency evaluation tests was uncommon (11 %). Main cessation methods used were individual counselling (68 %) and use of nicotine replacement therapy-products and/or prescription medicines (85 %) (image 2). While 77% saw smoke-free psychiatric hospitals as feasible in the future, only 53% believed that completely nicotine-free hospitals would be possible (image 3).
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Conclusions: Although psychiatric hospital staff recognize the importance of supporting patients in smoking cessation, they often lack the necessary expertise. To ensure structured and effective cessation practices, establishing clear policies, implementing standardized protocols, and providing comprehensive staff training is crucial. These preliminary results of this study have already been utilized in Vanha Vaasa Hospital, Finland, in enabling the transition into a completely interiorly smoke-free hospital.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared