CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Tobacco use and smoking-related practices during hospitalization in a Tunisian university hospital
1
University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University Hospital Farhat Hached, Department of Epidemiology, «LR19SP03», 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
2
University Hospital Farhat Hached, Department of Epidemiology, «LR19SP03», 4000 Sousse, Tunisia
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A140
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
Tobacco use remains a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Hospitalization represents a key opportunity for smoking cessation interventions. In Tunisia, the extent of tobacco use among hospitalized patients and the implementation of brief cessation advice in hospital settings remain insufficiently documented. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of smoking among hospitalized patients, their exposure to smoking by health professionals and the frequency of brief tobacco cessation advice delivered during hospital stays.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients hospitalized in ten medical wards of the Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse between May and July 2024. Three physicians, previously trained in data collection, administered a structured questionnaire to participants through telephone interviews after hospital discharge.
RESULTS:
A total of 403 responses were collected. The median age of respondents was 53 years (interquartile range: 39–64). The sex ratio (male/female) was 1.3, and 51.1% of our population had at least one previous hospitalisation (n=206). The median duration of hospitalization was 5 days [3-10]. Current smoking was reported by 126 patients (31.3%) : 48.1% of Men and 8.2% of Women. During hospitalization, 70 patients (17.4%) reported having seen a health professional smoking inside the hospital. Brief advice to quit smoking delivered by a health professional during hospital stay was reported by 265 patients (65.8%). Smoking prevalence was significantly lower among re-hospitalized patients compared with those hospitalized for the first time (23.3% versus 39.6%, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings reveal persistent gaps in hospital tobacco use control in Tunisia, including exposure to smoking by health professionals. Strengthening tobacco-free hospital policies, improving health professional role modelling and integrating systematic smoking cessation support into routine hospital care are critical to maximize the public health impact of hospitalization.
Tobacco use remains a leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Hospitalization represents a key opportunity for smoking cessation interventions. In Tunisia, the extent of tobacco use among hospitalized patients and the implementation of brief cessation advice in hospital settings remain insufficiently documented. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of smoking among hospitalized patients, their exposure to smoking by health professionals and the frequency of brief tobacco cessation advice delivered during hospital stays.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients hospitalized in ten medical wards of the Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse between May and July 2024. Three physicians, previously trained in data collection, administered a structured questionnaire to participants through telephone interviews after hospital discharge.
RESULTS:
A total of 403 responses were collected. The median age of respondents was 53 years (interquartile range: 39–64). The sex ratio (male/female) was 1.3, and 51.1% of our population had at least one previous hospitalisation (n=206). The median duration of hospitalization was 5 days [3-10]. Current smoking was reported by 126 patients (31.3%) : 48.1% of Men and 8.2% of Women. During hospitalization, 70 patients (17.4%) reported having seen a health professional smoking inside the hospital. Brief advice to quit smoking delivered by a health professional during hospital stay was reported by 265 patients (65.8%). Smoking prevalence was significantly lower among re-hospitalized patients compared with those hospitalized for the first time (23.3% versus 39.6%, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings reveal persistent gaps in hospital tobacco use control in Tunisia, including exposure to smoking by health professionals. Strengthening tobacco-free hospital policies, improving health professional role modelling and integrating systematic smoking cessation support into routine hospital care are critical to maximize the public health impact of hospitalization.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
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