engleski

Croatian smoke-free law and smoking habits among employees of health care facilities in Koprivnica-Krizevci County

The comprehensive national smoke-free laws in Croatia came into effect in December 1999 and smoking was prohibited in all health care facilities. The aim of our study was to investigate trends and differences in smoking habits among employees in health care facilities of Koprivnica-Krizevci County and to assess the potential impact of smoking ban in workplace. Results showed that daily cigarette use dropped from 15 to 12 cigarettes per person between 1998 and 2011, until smoking percent of employees who were smoking fell from 34.3% to 26.4% which was a 23.0% decrease. The decrease was greatest among physicians (from 28.3% to 19.4%) and non-health workers (from 39.2% to 26.4%), and smallest among nurses (from 35.8% to 29.4%). The greatest decrease in smoking prevalence among physicians was recorded in the first two years after the Act came into effect, among nurses in 2-6 years, and among non-health workers in 6-11 years since the Act came into effect. Smoking ban in workplace has a positive and long lasting impact on the smoking prevalence among employees in health care facilities of Koprivnca-Krizevci County. To continue the fight against smoking, increasing taxes and prices of tobacco product, strengthening controls and comprehensive cessation programs are needed.

smoking; physicians; nurses; tobacco policy; Croatia

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