Prevención y promoción de la salud en el personal de enfermería: el tabaquismo

statistics of jujuy province inform on an increase in morbidity and mortality from lung cancer and chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular-related causes smoking. the nursing staff (ns) is no stranger to this problem despite a message that promotes a progressive paradigm of community health. in this study we analyzed the causes of the prevalence of smoking in the ns with emphasis from its preventionists roles and health promoters. the data (n = 163) came from a semistructured questionnaire and participant observation. the quantitative results were expressed on the basis of descriptive statistics and compared through a t test. the qualitative analysis was based on ad-hoc categories. the results showed: a) an increased use of snuff in women, b) average age of onset of addiction among the 10 to 15 years, c) imitation as the dominant factor in smoking initiation and d) epoc as the main pathology associated with the consumption of snuff. smoking raises in the ns the exposure to health risks and require prevention and recovery measures of concerned staff. in this context it is essential to mobilize the team nursing in order to obtain changes in their behavior as an actor in community health prioritizing preventive aspect, rather than healing.