Abstract:
This study evaluates hospitalized patients' attitudes regarding smoking cessation counseling during their hospital stay. All patients hospitalized at the Ordu Training and Research Hospital (OEAH) received a questionnaire including personal information, smoking status, and their views on receiving smoking cessation counseling during hospitalization. Data were analyzed using SPSS. version 15. A total of 105 hospitalized patients at OEAH were included in the study, of which 52 (19.5%) were males and 53 (50.5%) were females. Thirty (28.6%) of the patients were current smokers. 30 (28.6%) quit before, 43 (40.9%) were non-smokers, and 2 (1.9%) did not provide information. Of the 30 patients who currently smoked, 5 (16.1%) stated that they were very keen and 4 (12.9%) stated that they were keen to receive smoking counseling at the hospital. Further, 30% (n=9) of the smokers believed that their disease was more or less associated with smoking. There was a positive correlation between those who believed that their illness was smoking-related and those who wanted to receive smoking counseling while in hospital (p <0.0001, r=0.674). The opportunity to quit smoking should not be missed when the patients who are skipped in primary care, which is the most important step in smoking cessation, are seen at second- and third-level healthcare institutions, especially at their bedsides. Every hospitalized patient should be informed and motivated regarding such an intervention, and the healthcare system should establish the necessary infrastructure.