Smoking-free healthcare, living and working environments. "health communication" in prevention and health promotion

Abstract

Background: Tobacco smoking in our country is the main cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Both the European Union and the WHO recommend the need for a multisectoral approach to smoking-related issues and the implementation of policies that have a measurable impact on reducing tobacco use. It is therefore clear how important it is to invest in implementing a global approach to the phenomenon aimed at promoting smoke-free environments and people, where health communication is an indispensable tool.

Methods: The study was carried out through an analysis of data relating to smoking habits in the Sicily Region, from the PASSI Surveillance System and the HBSC Surveillance System. Research was carried out on the scientific evidence relating to smoking prevention. Information was collected from the National Prevention Plan 2020-2025, the Transitional Regional Plan 2021, and the Regional Health Communication Plan 2021.

Results: Brief motivational advice has proven to be the simplest, least expensive, and most easily replicable approach in all healthcare settings. An intervention of just 5 minutes can bring the rate of abstention from cigarette smoking to 2-4% (spontaneous cessation) to 6-8% (1-year outcome).

Discussion: The data that emerged underline how widespread and increasing the habit of smoking tobacco is, but on the other hand, they reveal a non-negligible number of people who decide to quit smoking. The annual rate of people who permanently quit smoking corresponds, for spontaneous cessations, to percentages of approximately 2%, but this rate can reach percentages of 5% when the so-called "Brief Interventions" are implemented by healthcare personnel.

Conclusions: Institutional communication and information activities therefore have a strategic role in terms of health, as they are aimed at strengthening better knowledge, greater awareness in the general population and allow, more specifically, to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles and behaviors