Survey says you want to be smoke-free

We all know that exposure to second-hand smoke is harmful to people, but did you know that it’s the number two cause of lung cancer in Canada? But maybe you knew that already!

VCH Public Health conducted a survey in February with more than 400 VCH staff and it turns out that staff are very savvy when it comes to knowledge on smoking. Overall, the survey results show that staff re very aware of the harmful affects of cigarette smoke and of VCH’s Smoke-Free Premises policy.

Survey results highlights

• 99 per cent of respondents are aware that smoking is not allowed on VCH grounds.
• 82 per cent of respondents know that this includes no smoking in parks, parking lots and parkades.
• More than 96 per cent of respondents support the Smoke-Free Premises policy.

• Some VCH staff who smoke no longer smoke on VCH grounds as a result of the communications campaign (which began in November 2012).

The campaign continues

“The awareness of the campaign was much higher than expected,” says Christina Tonella, regional manager of the Tobacco Reduction Program. “And I’m really impressed that more than 99 per cent of people know second-hand smoke is harmful to staff and patients – that’s an incredibly high amount. This campaign has been very successful in raising awareness, in educating people about smoking on our premises and getting their support. Having said that, we’ll still continue to work on convincing more people to stop smoking around the hospital.”

Hear from a lung transplant patient

Here’s an interview we did with Silvia Houchen, a recent lung transplant patient – and ex-smoker – talking about how smokers outside of VCH sites affect her.

Thank you!

Thanks again to everyone who completed the survey and congrats to Donna Fullerton, occupational therapist, who was randomly drawn from everyone who completed the survey.