Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Malaysian Medical Doctors on Smoking Cessation Guideline

Abstract

Introduction: Prevalence of active smokers in Malaysia is remaining high (22.8%) despite the wide availability of quit-smoking services. Rather than look at the patients’ factors alone, the possible negative factors from health care providers should also be explored. Therefore, knowledge, attitude and practice of the healthcare professional on smoking cessation intervention needs to be assessed, especially among the primary care doctors. This can be done during national conference gathering all doctors from Malaysia. Materials and Method: A crosssectional study was conducted among medical doctors attending First East Coast Symposium on Specialized Care at Primary Care Level at Grand DarulMakmur, Kuantan on 1st to 2nd December 2019, using validated questionnaire of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Medical Doctors on Smoking Cessation Guidelines; consisting 17 questions to determine the KAP score. The difference between the median KAP scores between age, gender, ethnicity, religion, profession, location of clinic, availability of specialist at clinic, numbers of smokers seen and presence of smoking cessation training were assessed using Independent sample T-test and One-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 131 primary care doctors involved in the study. Majority were female (80.9%), Malay (96.2%), medical officers (74.8%), government doctors (90%) and haven’t undergone any kind of smoking cessation training (65.5%). The higher KAP score were statistically associated (p < 0.05) with history of attending training program (mean 35.7 score) and in charge of quit smoking clinic (mean 35.4 score). No significant difference of score between government (mean 32.0 score) and private doctors (mean 29.9 score). Conclusions : Majority of the involved primary care doctors had low KAP score. Being a family medicine specialist, in charge in stop smoking clinic and have attended smoking cessation training program were significantly associated with high KAP score. Therefore, more smoking cessation training should be provided for doctors.

Factors influencing the practice of Smoking Cessation Assessment and Management among Primary Care Doctors (SCAAM-DOC) in three districts of Malaysia

“…However, this study generally showed poor scores in all three knowledge, attitude and practice components among primary care doctors. This result was similar to the local study conducted among primary health care doctors in the state of Pahang [ 12 ].…”

“…A local study looking at the primary care doctors’ attitude toward smoking cessation in the state of Pahang also reported a similar finding as ours [ 12 ]. However, another local study in a teaching hospital found that the majority of the interns (89–95%) showed a good attitude toward smoking cessation management [ 19 ].…”

“…This could be due to suboptimal knowledge and attitude among them [ 12 , 14 ]. Previous studies showed that doctors with good knowledge and attitude were significantly associated with good practice of smoking cessation management [ 12 , 14 – 16 ]. Thus, this study aimed to determine the level of practice of smoking cessation management among primary care doctors and its associated factors.…”

“…It was found that smokers were 1.66 times more likely to quit smoking with brief advice than no advice [10]. However, literature has showed that the practice of smoking cessation management among primary care doctors were very sparse [11][12][13][14]. This could be due to suboptimal knowledge and attitude among them [12,14].…”

“…However, literature has showed that the practice of smoking cessation management among primary care doctors were very sparse [11][12][13][14]. This could be due to suboptimal knowledge and attitude among them [12,14]. Previous studies showed that doctors with good knowledge and attitude were significantly associated with good practice of smoking cessation management [12,[14][15][16].…”