Motivations for smoking in hospitalized patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile of motivations for smoking among inpatients at a hospital in southern Brazil. METHODS: A survey study involving hospitalized smokers. The Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale (MRFSS) and its domains were analyzed according to gender and dependence degree. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 85 adults (mean age 53 years), low schooling/family income, and well-adjusted in terms of gender (male= 52.9%) and clinical (48%) or surgical (47%) specialty. Most were in Action as the motivational stage (68%), with elevated smoking exposure (median = 39 years/packs) and dependence degree of nicotine (56.4%). The highest domains of the MRFSS were: Smoking Pleasure (4.34 ± 1.2), Relaxation/Tension Reduction (4.24 ± 1.2) and Dependence (3.8±1.4). Significantly, women presented higher scores, in domain Relaxation/Tension Reduction (4.7±0.9). In those with elevated nicotine dependence, higher scores were observed in the Automatism/Habit and Stimulation domains. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking Pleasure and Relaxation/Tension Reduction, especially in women and Automatism, in those more dependents, are factors that should be more highlighted in future strategies for smoking cessation in inpatients.