Tobacco Use and Respiratory Symptoms Among Psychiatric Inpatients at Psychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo, Rivers State

Tobacco use is disproportionately prevalent among individuals with psychiatric disorders, contributing to elevated rates of respiratory morbidity and reduced life expectancy. This study investigates the prevalence of tobacco use and associated respiratory symptoms among psychiatric inpatients at Psychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional design will recruit 150 inpatients through systematic sampling over an eight-week period. A structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPS instrument will document tobacco use patterns, while the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) will screen for respiratory symptoms. Psychiatric diagnoses obtained from case files will be correlated with tobacco use status. Chi-square tests and odds ratios will assess associations between psychiatric diagnosis, tobacco use, and respiratory symptoms. Existing literature identifies schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as conditions with particularly high tobacco use rates in Nigerian psychiatric facilities, largely attributed to smoking as a coping strategy and the dopaminergic effects of nicotine. Findings will support the integration of tobacco cessation programs into psychiatric inpatient services in Rivers State. Keywords: tobacco use, respiratory symptoms, psychiatric inpatients, Rivers State, Port Harcourt