Shared Decision-Making on Tobacco Smoking by Older Adults Living in Residential Care Facilities: Care Professionals’ Perspectives

Older adults with physical or cognitive disabilities may need to move to residential care facilities (RCFs). Some older adults smoke tobacco and become dependent on their care professionals to continue smoking. Care professionals need to balance an individual resident’s quality of life and well-being with the health and safety of all residents and staff. Shared decision-making (SDM) could support care professionals in these dilemmas. This study assesses multiple factors that could affect care professionals’ behavior and degree of SDM regarding residents’ tobacco use.