Innovative call emerging from a qualitative study for workplace designated stop-smoking area

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.