Implementation and impact of anti-smoking interventions in three prisons in the absence of appropriate legislation
A partir d'une enquête menée en 2009 (417 participants) puis en 2010-2011 (228 participants) auprès de prisonniers et du personnel de 3 prisons suisses, cette étude évalue, en l'absence d'une législation appropriée au milieu carcéral, l'effet d'un programme d'interventions anti-tabac sur l'exposition au tabagisme des prisonniers et sur leur recours à une aide médicale pour arrêter de fumer
Objective To assess the acceptability and impact of anti-smoking policies in three prisons in Switzerland. Methods A before-after intervention study in A) an open prison for sentenced prisoners, B) a closed prison for sentenced prisoners, and C) a prison for pretrial detainees. Prisoners and staff were surveyed before (2009, n = 417) and after (2010–2011, n = 228) the interventions. Medical staff were trained to address tobacco dependence systematically in prisoners. In prison A, a partial smoking ban was extended. No additional protection against second-hand smoke was feasible in prisons B and C. Results In prison A, more prisoners reported receiving medical help to quit smoking in 2011 (20%) than in 2009 (4%, p = 0.012). In prison A, prisoners and staff reported less exposure to second-hand smoke in 2011 than in 2009: 31% of prisoners were exposed to smoke at workplaces in 2009 vs 8% in 2011 (p = 0.001); in common rooms: 43% vs 8%, (p < 0.001). No changes were observed in prisons B and C. Conclusions Reinforcement of non-smoking rules was possible in only one of the three prisons but had an impact on exposure to tobacco smoke and medical help to quit. Implementing anti-smoking policies in prisons is difficult in the absence of appropriate legislation.