I lavoratori della sanità

The impact of a smoke-free law ("legge Sirchia" 3/2003) on the behaviour of smokers and nonsmokers was assessed in 455 Terni hospital workers one month or more after the law was enforced (January 10, 2005). A physician completed a questionnaire about self-reported exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and its potential determinants, such as sex, age, smoking status, job, and workplace, 22.5% of smokers reported a decrease in daily smoking and 4.2% reported quitting after the law was passed. The prevalence of workers exposed to ETS was 56.3%. After the restrictive smoking law implementation there was a great decline in workers' self reported mean exposure to ETS, from 71 min./working day before the law to 18 min. afterwards (p<0.0001). Workers not involved in wards and operating room work were more exposed to ETS before the law and had a greater decline in exposure to ETS afterwards (p=0.0004), while smokers had a lower decrease after implementation of the law (p=0.009). Obviously, smoking cessation interventions in the workplace are a priority. The Italian smoke-free workplace legislation is a valuable tool to protect workers against the adverse health effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure.