| Summary: | Introduction
Designated smoking areas (DSAs) have become a common feature of
public places in various developed and developing countries that have ratified the
World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
(FCTC). However, this situation is not in line with the WHO FCTC. In this
context, this study was designed to explore the perception of stakeholders on
the DSA prevailing in workplaces in Mauritius and to explore the feasibility of
smoking cessation interventions in the workplace.
Methods
A qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews was
conducted among the various stakeholders in tobacco control in Mauritius. Data
collected were transcribed verbatim for analysis.
Results
Three main themes emerged from this study: 1) a need for comprehensive
smoke-free law, 2) a need for smoking cessation services, and 3) a need for
stakeholders’ involvement (local government, employers, and health professionals)
in the promotion of tobacco cessation programs.
Conclusions
We make a call for a workplace Designated Stop Smoking Area (DSSA)
in order to phase out existing DSAs. DSSAs will be a therapeutic means to divert
smokers away from DSAs, in order to change their behaviour with respect to
tobacco use. Group therapy, individual counselling, and tobacco treatment will
be made accessible in these DSSAs, which with a touch of innovation can become
a VIP lounge for stop-smoking services. This innovative call for DSSAs is meant
to sensitize policy makers of developing countries on how to proceed for the
elimination of DSAs.
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