OBJECTIVE: Tobacco control measures are relevant also in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions and their implementation in Germany will be assessed in this study.

METHODS: In an online survey, n=78 leading staff members responded to standardized questions assessing how smoking in patients was dealt in such institutions.

RESULTS: The majority of institutions (70-87%) had smoking bans in the psychiatric clinic buildings and premises. Depending on the type of psychiatric ward, exceptions were in place in the form of a designated smoking area (38%), smoking pavilion (19%), or when patients suffered from certain mental disorders (28%). Documentation of violations of the ban varied with the type of ward (30-79%), while in most cases violations led to consequences (84-93%) including confiscation of smoking utilities (42-63%) or a curfew (25-38%). Smoking cessation aids were reported by 78% of the institutions, most often as consultations (64%). Pharmacological treatments for smoking were provided in inpatient wards (71-83%). One in two institutions documented the result of cessation attempts (54%). Smoking-related working groups (14%) or the use of standardized diagnostic instruments (0-4%) were much less frequently reported.

DISCUSSION: We provide a first look at tobacco control policy measures in child and adolescent psychiatric institutions on a national scale. This allows us to derive future areas for tobacco control.