Ongoing projects
Evaluation of tobacco control, pollution and tobacco consumption in mental health units in Catalonia
The prevalence of smoking in developed countries has been decreasing over the years, however, it remains stable in the population of people with mental disorders, who also smoke more cigarettes per day than the general population. Patients with serious mental disorders can die up to 20 years earlier than the general population, usually due to diseases caused or worsened by tobacco. Although the prevalence of smokers in mental health hospital units can reach up to 80%, tobacco use has been a topic that is usually neglected by professionals in this field.
This study aims to: 1) Characterize and compare with the results of 10 years ago the tobacco control strategies deployed in mental health units in Catalonia (hospital and outpatient), 2) Objectively evaluate the levels of environmental tobacco smoke in mental health hospital units and compare them with the results of 10 years ago, after the entry into force of the law prohibiting smoking in mental health centers, and 3) Evaluate tobacco consumption and attitudes towards tobacco use in the field of mental health by patients and workers in hospitalization units, and compare them with the results of 10 years ago ( see previous study )
For objective 1, a comprehensive electronic questionnaire with the variables of interest will be sent to all managers of hospital units and mental health day centers in Catalonia (n=192). For objective 2, the environmental concentration of ultrafine particles (PM 2.5 ) will be measured as a marker of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (n=67). Finally, for objective 3, a brief questionnaire will be administered to patients (minimum n=600) and professionals (minimum n=600) in the same centers. All this information will be compared with that of the previous study carried out 10 years ago using the same methodology.
3 years (January 2019 – January 2022)
Instituto Carlos III FIS PI18/ 01148 endowed with €59,290.00
Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO – Spain)
Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute Foundation (IDIBELL – Spain)
Dreamedsoft Solutions SL (DSOFT—Spain)
Amsterdam University Medical Center (Vumc – Netherlands)
Stichting Trimbos-Instituut, Netherlands institute of mental health and addiction (TRIMBOS – Netherlands)
Universiteti i Mjekesise Tirane (UMT—Albania)
Institute for the study, prevention and oncological network (ISPRO—Italy)
State Institution Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (UPHC—Ukraine)
Association Europeenne des Ligues Contre le Cancer (ECL—Belgium)
Helse Bergen HF (HBE/HUS—Norway)
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH—Germany)
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ—Germany)
German Network for Tobacco Free Healthcare Services (DNRfK—Germany)
The University of Queensland (UQ—Australia)
The University of Stirling (USTIRLING–United Kingdom)
Principal investigator: Cristina Martínez (ICO)
Montse Ballbè (IP). (ICO-IDIBELL)
Esteve Fernandez. (ICO-IDIBELL)
Yolanda Castellano. (ICO-IDIBELL)
Joseph Maria Suelves. (Department of Health of the Generalitat of Catalonia)
Esteve Saltó. (Department of Health of the Generalitat of Catalonia)
Collaborators:
Laura Antón. (ICO-IDIBELL)
Antoni Gual. (Barcelona Clinical Hospital)
Previous project: Assessment of environmental tobacco smoke in mental health admission units