Improving Compliance of Tobacco Use Policies in Mental Health Facilities

Audience: Tobacco control specialist working with out-patient mental health facilities and the medical and administrative staff at those facilities. 

Key Points: Utilizing audience appropriate training and materials are essential to improving staff and client compliance  in the implementation of a tobacco use policy in an outpatient mental health facility.  Using key informant interviews of medical staff directors and administrative directors and training pre and post assessments, it was determined that a higher level of policy compliance resulted from audience appropriate training aimed specifically to the mental health community.  The incidence of compliance was increased as a result of more specific and frequent training of staff.  Additionally, a higher number of smoking patients were identified and provided consultation by medical staff as a result of the advanced training.  

Educational Experience: Presenters will use the poster presentation, handouts and discussion with poster presenter. 

Benefits: In mental health facilities, 90% have difficulty in implementation of smoke-free policies ( Br J Psych 2009; 194: 547-551.27).  Use of specific training content and audience appropriate training along with increased frequency of training resulted in more favorable staff compliance and increased cessation consultations by staff.