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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Christine E. Sheffer, PhD¹, J. Gary Wheeler, MD², James M. Raczynski, PhD¹, and John B. Wayne, PhD³. (1) College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Health Behavior / Health Education Department, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot #820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, (501) 526-6613, shefferchristinee@uams.edu, (2) Colleges of Medince and Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences & Arkansas Children's Hospital, 4301 West Markham, ACH Sturgis Building , Slot 512-11, Little Rock, AR 72205, (3) College of Public Health, Univ of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot #820, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199

In 2005, the Arkansas legislature passed Act 134, legislation prohibiting smoking on the grounds of all medical facilities. The Act became effective 10/1/2005. Prior to this legislation, most Arkansas hospitals prohibited smoking in hospital buildings. However, few hospitals had established smoke-free policies that included the entire hospital grounds. In order to assist hospitals with this transition, a comprehensive toolkit was developed and distributed to the hospitals. While developing this toolkit, it was discovered that there is a dearth of literature to assist administration with the implementation of smoke-free policies.

As part of an effort to evaluate this policy, Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) member CEO's were surveyed in April/May 2005 (pre-implementation) and will again be surveyed in 10/2006. Pre-implementation survey responses are presented below.

Of the 101 AHA members, the legislation did not apply to 17 facilities (response rate =92%, 77/84). Responses were assessed on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 being the least and 10 being the most of the designated quality. On average, facilities were about halfway through the implementation process (M=4.51); agreed with the legislation as an employer (M=8.74), as a healthcare provider (M=9.25), and as a community member (M=9.01); expected moderate support from employees (M=6.82), patients (M=5.95), visitors (M=5.47), and greater support from physicians (M=8.79), and the board (M=9.40). On average, CEOs expected a moderate degree of difficulty with enforcement (M=5.68) and overall implementation (M=4.67); and did not expect a negative effect on employee retention (M=2.68). The average expected cost associated with implementation was $20,859.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to

• Describe events leading to the passage of a groundbreaking policy
• Discuss the results of a legislated policy prohibiting smoking on the grounds of all medical facilities.
• Identify the implementation barriers.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Tobacco Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation