Views of prison staff in Scotland on the potential benefits and risks of e-cigarettes in smoke-free prisons: a qualitative focus group study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were introduced into all Scottish prisons in February 2018, some months after prisons began preparing in 2017 for a smoking ban implemented in November 2018. In 2016/2017, prison staff views on the potential benefits and risks of e-cigarettes were explored in advance of the introduction of: (1) a smoking ban and (2) e-cigarettes.

Setting

Fourteen prisons in Scotland.

Participants

Seventeen focus groups and two paired interviews were conducted with 132 staff in 14 Scottish prisons 4-9 months before plans for a smoking ban were announced in July 2017. Both smoking and non-smoking staff were invited to participate.

Results

Prison staff highlighted three potential risks of e-cigarettes in smoke-free prisons: staff heal

SUBMITTER: Brown A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6597633 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature