Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gazi State Hospital, Samsun, Turkey
2
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
3
Department of Family Medicine, Samsun Education and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey
4
Department of Emergency Medicine, Giresun University Prof. Dr. A. Ilhan Ozdemir Education and Research Hospital, Giresun, Turkey
5
Department of Family Medicine, Giresun University Prof. Dr. A. Ilhan Ozdemir Education and Research Hospital, Giresun, Turkey
6
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey
7
Gokberk Family Healthcare Center, Samsun Provincial Health Directorate, Samsun, Turkey
8
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
10.22122/ahj.2022.91849
Abstract
Background: Emergency rooms (ERs) are usually crowded with friends and relatives (F&Rs) of the patients.
This experience may result in changes in smoking behaviors and create opportunities for smoking cessation
interventions. The study aims to investigate these changes and offers a new frontier in the fight against
smoking.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the ERs of two universities in different cities. A
questionnaire consisting of 18 questions was applied to F&Rs of the emergency patients. Statistical analysis
was performed using Jamovi program.
Findings: A total of 603 respondents were included in the study. Of them, 71.3% were first-degree relatives,
51.7% waited 5 or more times in ER before, and 68.6% spent 0-2 hours in a day around the ER. Upon
witnessing patients in the ERs, 53.4% of the F&Rs had the idea of quitting smoking and 42.9% wanted to
have smoking cessation therapy during their wait in the hospital. While 76.1% of the participants were not
using different brands of cigarettes when offered in normal life, this rate was lower around the ERs (64.6%)
(P < 0.001). Participants smoked 0.82 ± 0.34 cigarette per hour in normal life excluding sleeping time; this
number raised almost 6 folds during the wait (4.85 ± 2.11) (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: F&Rs smoked more during waiting around ERs. However, they also expressed desire to quit
smoking and receive smoking cessation intervention during the wait. Providing smoking cessation
counseling to F&Rs in the ER may be a valuable intervention.
Keywords
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