Abstract
Abstract
Gifu University began campus-wide prohibition of smoking both inside and outside of buildings, and removed all smoking areas, ash-trays, and outdoor cigarette-butt receptacles in 2005. However, some smokers nevertheless smoked outdoors, clearly evidenced by the increasingly numerous discarded cigarette butts in some area of campus. It was suggested that not only students but also staff were involved. To promote smoke-free promotion on campus, we carried out a survey of staff tobacco use. We distributed an unsigned, self-completion survey to all 1,596 staff-members having an annual health checkup, and obtained a response from all of them. One hundred fifty were smokers, and the smoking rate was 9.4%. These smokers responded to questions regarding awareness of the campus-wide tobacco prohibition and knowledge of the health benefits of not smoking. The average number of cigarettes smoked was 14.7±8.2 per day, and the average duration of smoking was 16.5 ± 10.3 years. It is easy to suspicious for inability to smoke in the office during1 business hours, since more than 60% of smokers begin use of tobacco within 30 min of waking up each day. Fewer than 10% expressed an intention to discontinue smoking soon, but nearly 80% were interested in stopping smoking some time later. About 50% of the smokers answered that they can stop smoking with more than 50% confidence. From these results, an improved support system for staff to quit smoking may be helpful to promote compliance with this campus-wide smoking prohibition.
