Staff's Attitudes Toward the Delivery of Tobacco Cessation Services in a Primarily Psychiatric Veterans Affairs Hospital

To prepare for improving the delivery of cessation services in a primarily psychiatric Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, the investigators surveyed (n = 150) and interviewed (n = 8) clinical and nonclinical staff to determine staff's characteristics associated with attitudes about providing cessation services and to seek suggestions about what would be important to include in a tobacco cessation program. Almost one third reported that they currently use tobacco products. Almost three quarters said that they felt that the VA should be doing more to assist patients to quit smoking, yet only approximately one quarter said that they personally provide cessation services. Over half felt moderately, very, or extremely confident in providing cessation services. Multivariate analyses showed that higher education and, surprisingly, not being a nurse were associated with feeling that it was important to provide cessation services.