Smoking Cessation Programs in the worksite: The Need for its Implementation in Spain

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is the most important health problem in Spain, as in the rest of the developed countries; been also recognized as the most preventable cause of premature morbidity and mortality in the western world. Interventions to reduce tobacco consumption in Spain, has been mainly addressed by means of physician- patient interaction, lacking the approach for community and workplace interventions. This article emphasize the need for the implementation of strategies of smoking cessation programs in the worksite, encouraging to health professionals to design, to apply and to evaluate these interventions. The most often used approaches to reduce tobacco smoking at the worksite are considered, addressing cost-effectiveness issues related with the characteristics of the Spanish Health System.