It will be helpful to know what has happened in the
hospital as a result.
How many community members, patients, and employees
took advantage of the tobacco cessation program?
How many people benefited from free or low-cost
Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs)?
How much did the hospital spend making free or low-cost NRTs available?
How many people quit or reduced their use of
tobacco products as a result of the tobacco-free campus wide policy?
How does the actual budget compare with the
projected budget for the policy implementation process?
Here are some reasons why it is important to evaluate the impact of the policy.
- To assess the number of people impacted
by the policy and its effects on the hospital and community.
- To understand the financial bottom line
- how much was spent, and how much will be saved? Was it
cost effective?
- To help guide other states and organizations because North Carolina is a national leader in
the tobacco-free campus wide hospital policy initiative.
- To provide accurate information and
recommendations for others who are considering adopting this
policy. By sharing data about the impact of the policy and
the lessons learned, we can help others to be successful.
NC Prevention Partners can help.
NC Prevention Parnters has developed two tools to help answer
these questions. We can provide technical assistance as the hospital
begins to use them.
Employee
Wellness Survey (.pdf) / (.doc)
- Specifically examines current tobacco use status and evaluates
medications, hospital resources, and other supports that may
have been effective in helping the employee quit or reduce
tobacco use
- To be completed by hospital employees who have participated
in the hospital-based tobacco cessation programs since the
implementation of the policy
Observational Survey (.pdf) / (.doc)
- Hospitals should consider conducting a thorough observational survey immediately prior to implementation and at six months and one-year post implementation. This helps gauge the impact of the policy regarding people using tobacco products on the hospital campus and adjacent properties.
UNC Hospitals tobacco-free campus policy initial impact survey
UNC Hospitals conducted a survey in June 2007, a month before going tobacco-free campus wide to document the successes, challenges and effectiveness of the tobacco-free campus wide policy. Click here for a summary of the findings.
