PERSonalised Incentives for Supporting Tobacco cessation (PERSIST) among healthcare employees: evaluation and lessons learned 373 11 One respondent mentioned that the hours of smoking cessation training did not match the working hours, especially due to nightshifts. Others doubted whether group-based training could actually help them quit smoking. Employee 5 (Male, pack a day): “I know a colleague who participated in the programme, but that colleague started smoking again. So if I knew it would work, then maybe I would join, but it does not work.” Another respondent mentioned that a broader program about not just smoking cessation but a healthy lifestyle in general would be more attractive. Respondents had different opinions about the fact that the program was groupbased. Half of the respondents preferred to have an individual program, since that would offer more flexibility and the opportunity to do things at their own pace. The other half liked the fact that the programme was in a group because they imagined it was nice to feel support or considered it a good way to share experiences and tips. The fact that the program was implemented at work was not always perceived as positive, as some people felt ashamed of their smoking status in front of (non-smoking) colleagues: Employee 11 (Male; smokes “less than he used to”): “Well, actually it is a… it is a shame culture really. Because it is so stupid, you work at a hospital, you know it is bad for your health, and still you do it [smoking] … It sounds a bit sneaky maybe, but I just do not want everyone to know I’m a smoker, let alone that I’m participating in such a programme.” To communicate about the programme, most respondents considered e-mail and intranet as good options and proposed methods to improve communication differed: some liked the idea of including managers in the promotion while others did not. Employee three explained, for example: Employee 3: “If you are on less good terms with your manager, I think it might be intimidating” While participation in the smoking cessation program was not obligatory, respondents disliked the tone of communication and felt that they were being pushed into it. Timing also mattered; the smoking cessation programme was promoted in combination with the introduction of a smoke-free zone around the hospital.24 One respondent even mentioned this was too much at once for employees and it made them feel attacked. Perspective on the employer Only one of the 15 respondents stated that offering a smoking cessation program was a good gesture that showed the employer’s compassion for the employee’s
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