Attitudes of community optometrists to smoking cessation: an untapped opportunity overlooked?

Abstract

Aim: To assess community optometristsÕ attitudes and current behaviour regarding provision of smoking cessation advice in their practice. Methods: A self-completion postal questionnaire was sent to community optometrists in north-west England identified from the General Optical Council's practice lists. Results: Of 709 optometrists identified, 71.8% (509/709) returned the completed questionnaire. Few community optometrists routinely asked about smoking habits: only 6.2% (95% CI: 4.1-8.3) (n ¼ 31) at new patient consultations, and 2.2% (95% CI: 0.9-3.5) (n ¼ 11) at follow-up visits. Reasons for optometrists not routinely providing smoking cessation advice included: not their role (35.4%, n ¼ 180), lack of time (22.0%, n ¼ 112) and forgetting to ask (21.4%, n ¼ 109). Overall 67.6% (95% CI: 63.5-71.7) (n ¼ 344) of community optometrists wanted to improve their knowledge of smoking and visual impairment with 56.2% (95% CI: 51.9-60.5) (n ¼ 286) requesting further training. Conclusion: Despite low levels of current involvement, many optometrists were keen to receive training on smoking cessation topics. We suggest that there are untapped opportunities to develop brief interventions to promote smoking cessation services in community optometry settings.

Advice about diet and smoking for people with or at risk of age-related macular degeneration: a cross-sectional survey of eye care professionals in the UK

“…However, only a third of respondents in the current survey reported that they regularly took a smoking history in new patients and a similar number were proactive in advising on smoking cessation. Previous studies that have investigated the attitudes and practice of optometrists in this area have reported similar findings [30,31]. These studies also identified a number of barriers to routinely addressing a patient’s smoking behaviour including time constraints and a perceived need for further training in this area [31].…”

Teenagers' perceptions of blindness related to smoking: a novel message to a vulnerable group

“…16 Eyecare practitioners, particularly high street optometrists, should also consider asking their adolescent patients whether they smoke, and to provide advice on quitting to smokers. Currently this opportunity is untapped, 17 and there are opportunities for ophthalmologists to improve their practice on smoking advice. 18 Our study adds weight to targeting teenagers, with the novel message ''smoking causes blindness'''…”

Awareness of blindness and other smoking-related diseases and its impact on motivation for smoking cessation in eye patients

“…18 Similar findings were observed among community optometrists in the United Kingdom. 19 Hence, eyecare professionals can potentially have a greater role in the provision of targeted smoking cessation support for eye patients in routine ophthalmic and optometric practice. 20 This can be achieved through reducing perceived barriers by training eyecare professionals in providing an effective, brief intervention that is readily received by patients, as well as providing resources and materials to practitioners.…”