In this letter to the New Zealand Medical Journal, ASPIRE2025 researchers discuss the first-ever survey of hospital outdoor smokefree signage conducted in New Zealand.
Hospitals were one of the first settings in New Zealand to adopt indoor smokefree policies, and they have also been leaders in making their grounds smokefree as well. Given the healthcare orientation of hospitals, these facilities are likely to provide both an educative role and a norm-setting role towards a smokefree society – the New Zealand Government’s goal for 2025.
However, no surveys of hospital outdoor smokefree signage have yet been conducted in this country – and so we aimed to address this deficit.
The methodology included both field observations and analysis using Google Street View. The results suggest that there is scope for improvements in increasing the number of smokefree signs at the main entrances to hospitals. Furthermore, there is an opportunity in many places for signs to clearly state that the grounds are smokefree and to make signs larger.
Further Information
For more information or to request a copy of the letter, please contact:
Nick Wilson
University of Otago, Wellington
email nick.wilson@otago.ac.nz