Every day, those who work in healthcare see the effects of addiction, including smoking. From chronic bronchitis to lung cancer, the outcome of tobacco use is front and center—yet many of these same health professionals still take time out for smoke breaks.
Why do people who understand all the risks of smoking continue to do it? When you understand the addictive nature of tobacco, it’s easier to grasp why many can’t just quit. (Learn more in our blog Why Don’t People Just Stop Smoking?)
Here are some key factors, along with insights on how to help tobacco users in healthcare quit for good.
Smoking Cessation and Smoking in Healthcare
About 15% of healthcare workers use tobacco.
Much like those in the general population, quitting smoking can be challenging, especially if they’re using tobacco as way to de-stress. Taking a smoke break outside, particularly with fellow healthcare workers, may be seen as a form of “self-care,” even if it has potentially serious health ramifications.
Why This Matters
For both women and men, tobacco use can impact absenteeism and cause lower productivity—a major concern, considering there’s already a staffing shortage for many healthcare organizations. In fact, the shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) is expected to intensify as Baby Boomers age and the need for healthcare grows.
Another potential downside to smoking among healthcare workers is how it can affect patient care. Research shows nurse-led interventions for smoking cessation among patients play an important role in helping patients quit smoking successfully, but that the main barrier in achieving that goal is the nurses’ own smoking behavior.
What Smoking Cessation Solution Can Reduce Smoking in Healthcare?
Employers in the healthcare space are taking a variety of tactics to address tobacco use, with mixed results. Some have taken a very strong stance by using nicotine testing prior to hiring and refusing to hire smokers.
Others test for tobacco use, but then use it as an opportunity to provide support.
For example, EX Program partners with healthcare organizations such as Indiana University Health, CHI Mercy, and McLeod Health to address the unique needs of tobacco users in today’s environment through an evidence-based program.
EX Program provides:
- Convenient and discreet synchronous support from tobacco treatment experts via live chat
- Quit medication that’s delivered right to the participant’s home after chatting with a tobacco treatment expert
- 24/7 support from peers in our thriving EX Community. Within in the community, the average response time is 12 minutes to a post; the average number of responses is 12.
- Dynamic text messaging for anytime, anywhere support.
Smoking cessation and smoking in healthcare can be complex—overcoming tobacco addiction is hard—and that is why relying on an experienced third-party cessation partner is key.
Contact EX Program to see a demo of our digital health program for tobacco addiction, and let’s work together to help healthcare workers live healthy lives.
