Self-efficacy in providing smoking-cessation services among psychiatric nurses in central and southern Taiwan: An exploratory study

Smoking by psychiatric patients remains prevalent. The purpose of this cross‐sectional study was to understand the influence of self‐efficacy and its correlates among psychiatric nurses when providing smoking‐cessation services (SCS). A convenience sample of 193 nurses from psychiatric institutions was obtained. Surveys were conducted using self‐report measures regarding SCS provided by psychiatric nurses. The survey questions focused on self‐efficacy, attitude, practical experience, and smoke‐free policies, and their implementation in the workplace. The participants reported low self‐efficacy for providing SCS in their self‐assessment, as demonstrated by their scores of 55.3 ± 20.4, on a scale of 0 (low confidence) to 100 (high confidence). Using multiple linear regressions, statistically‐significant, relevant factors included perceived provider‐related barriers in providing SCS, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, the nurse's attitude towards a patient smoking, and the nurse's frequency and practical experience in providing SCS. The correlates of this self‐efficacy can serve as a reference for in‐service curriculum planning of SCS by psychiatric nurses. In addition, policies to limit exposure to second‐hand tobacco smoke should be explored.