Description

Smoking is a significant psychosocial issue that affects society. The substance responsible for smoking addiction is nicotine, which has a stronger addictive potential than other psychoactive substances. Tobacco, in addition to its many physical health risks, is also a psychoactive substance that can lead to mental and behavioral disorders. It is estimated that 1.3 billion people worldwide use tobacco products, and approximately 8 million people die each year due to smoking. Despite the high mortality rate, smoking addiction is considered one of the leading preventable causes of disease and death.

Individuals with mental health disorders have significantly higher smoking rates compared to the general population. Studies indicate that people diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression smoke at a rate three to four times higher than the general public. This high smoking prevalence among individuals with severe mental illness is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and higher healthcare costs. Reducing the burden of physical illness among people with mental disorders is recognized as a national priority, making smoking cessation among these individuals particularly important.

Nurses, who form the largest group among healthcare professionals and spend the most time with patients, play a crucial role in smoking cessation efforts. Nurses are expected to be actively involved in smoking prevention and cessation. International health authorities emphasize the need for nurses to be at the forefront of tobacco control efforts.

Global smoking cessation campaigns primarily target healthy individuals as part of preventive health strategies. However, special groups such as psychiatric patients should also be included in smoking cessation initiatives. Research indicates that a significant proportion of individuals with mental illness who smoke express a desire to quit. Furthermore, interventions that enhance smoking cessation success among the general population are also effective for individuals with mental health disorders. It is strongly recommended that evidence-based smoking cessation interventions be applied to individuals with mental disorders, just as they are to the general population.

Given the high prevalence of nicotine addiction among individuals with mental disorders and the preventable nature of smoking-related deaths, the importance of smoking cessation initiatives becomes evident. However, research has shown that mental health teams do not consistently implement evidence-based smoking cessation interventions. Although literature highlights the severity of smoking issues among individuals with severe mental illness, studies on smoking cessation interventions remain limited. Notably, randomized controlled trials examining the effectiveness of nurse-led smoking cessation interventions for this population are scarce.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of smoking cessation education among patients registered at community mental health centers. It is expected to contribute to reducing smoking addiction, which is prevalent among individuals with mental disorders, while also raising awareness among mental health professionals, particularly nurses, about the importance of smoking cessation efforts.