[Cigarette smoking among nursing personnel employed in the oncology departments, in the context of the educational tasks performed].

Cigarette smoking has become a popular occurrence in the 21st Cent. It was recognised by the WHO as a disease and classified as the one associated with the addiction. The list of illnesses related to smoking is still expanding while the adult smokers keep living shorter. These observations should then be reflected in creating "a fashion for non-smoking" among the health care professionals. The analysis of the extent of cigarette smoking among the nursing personnel, employed in the oncologic departments was the chief objective of the present study. The diagnostic survey was the employed method of research. It was aided by a questionnaire. The studied group comprised 100 male and female nurses, randomly selected, and employed in the oncologic departments. The survey was performed between April and June, 2007. The return rate was 71%. The results will be confronted with the earlier assessment done by the male and female nurses. The study revealed that the majority of the nursing personnel, employed in the oncologic departments do not smoke. The main reasons behind the cessation of smoking by the respondents, the former smokers, were: health considerations (45.5%), and the social ones (36.4%). It was also established that the personnel are aware of the influence of the demonstrated behavioural patterns, both conducive and detrimental to health, on the fact of being credible during a health education session, performed by them. Cigarette smoking by nursing personnel, employed in the oncologic departments is not a widespread occurrence. The personnel should, as often as possible, direct their educational actions on the patient and his/her family, and emphasise the influence of the proper life-style on the preservation of health, its improvement, and the prevention of diseases or complications. Alerting the nursing personnel to the association between the behaviour patterns of the therapeutic team, and the behaviour patterns and attitudes conducive to health of their patients, is important.