The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: This study was aimed at asking the hospital administrative authorities participating in Japanese Association of Clinical Cancer Centers (JACCC) about the current situation of smoking control.

Methods: Postal survey conducted May through August 2005. A questionnaire was sent to all 30 institutes affiliated with JACCC, in order to investigate the policy on smoking for employees and for visitors.

Results: All responded after one reminder. The main finding was that only 26.7% implemented a complete ban of smoking in the hospital buildings and grounds, 66.7% adopted a complete indoor smoking ban in hospital buildings. In 6.7% of hospitals there are areas designated for smokers in hospital buildings and the selling of tobacco permitted in 3 hospitals . Only 66.7% provide help for smoking cessation and 90% report that no financial support is given to this policy.Out of the 30 institutes, half have palliative care units. As regards palliative cared patients, 2 of the units permitted smoking in their rooms. In Japan the control of smoking in clinical cancer centers is not achieved yet.