Factors Associated With Staff Engagement in Patients' Tobacco Treatment in a State Psychiatric Facility.

BACKGROUND

Persons with mental illnesses (MI) who use tobacco are likely to experience poorer physical health and worsened psychiatric symptomology as compared to their non-tobacco-using counterparts. Therefore, engaging them in treatment is an important aspect of evidence-based care.

OBJECTIVE

To use the theory of planned behavior to examine factors associated with intentions to provide and the provision of evidence-based tobacco treatment.

DESIGN

This study is based on a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 195 staff at a state psychiatric hospital.

RESULTS

When controlling for demographic variables, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward providing tobacco treatment were associated with intentions to provide tobacco treatment, but only subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were associated with reported provision of evidence-based tobacco treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding factors that influence provider delivery of tobacco treatment can better determine strategies to reduce the disproportionate tobacco use and related illnesses in behavioral health settings.