Tobacco use and related behaviors among staff and students in a university hospital: A large cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Smoking prevalence in the overall population in France was 27% in 2017. There are few data about smoking prevalence in hospital workers. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of current smoking in student and staff populations at Lyon University Hospital. Secondary objectives were to identify main variables associated with current smoking and willingness to quit.
Methods: We designed a single center, cross-sectional survey, using printed questionnaires. During one day, all registered staff and students were surveyed. We used optical reading to extract information from questionnaires. We performed univariate and multivariate analysis adjusted on most relevant factors.
Results: We analyzed 9712 questionnaires. The participating rates were high: 40.6% in the student cohort and 51.5% in the staff cohort. The proportion of current cigarette users was 26% in students and 25% in staff. In multivariate analysis, current smoking was significantly associated with: younger age, male sex, occupation type (e.g. logistical staff, and paramedical students), overnight work, and e-cigarette use. Among smokers, 53% reported a willingness to quit. In multivariate analysis, number of quit attempts, and feeling symptoms from tobacco were associated with willingness to quit.
Conclusions: Current smoking is less frequent in our cohorts of hospital staff and students than in the general French population. However, there are deep disparities in current smoking prevalence underlining a heterogeneous population. Among smokers, the majority reported a willingness to quit and some predictive factors may help to target this audience.
Competing Interests: The authors have each completed and submitted an ICMJE form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. B. Rolland reports grants from Abbvie, Gilead, and Camurus, consulting fees from Abbvie, Gilead, Camurus, Pileje, Accord Health, Indivior, and Zentiva, honorary payments from Abbvie, Gilead, Recordati, Ethypharm, HAC Pharma, and Shire, and other payment from Camurus, outside the submitted work. M. Darrason reports honorary payment from Bristol Meyers Squibb, CCA congress colloquia, outside the submitted work.
(© 2021 Sébastien Couraud.)