Physicians' attitude towards tobacco dependence in a private hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Objective:To investigate how often physicians identify and treat tobacco dependence and whether characteristics as gender, age, marital status, medical specialty and smoking status can influence their attitude towards this question.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed on 515 physicians working in a private hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, using a confidential voluntary questionnaire sent and answered electronically.Results:We found that 89% of physicians who answered the research questionnaire often or always asked their patients about smoking habits, but only 39% often or always treated patients' tobacco dependence. In our sample, 5.8% of individuals were current smokers. Tobacco dependent physicians provided less treatment for smoking dependence compared with those who had never smoked, or were former smokers. Being a clinician was associated with higher probability to treat tobacco dependence.Conclusion:Physicians should not only address patients' smoking habits but also provide treatment whenever tobacco dependence is diagnosed. To understand physicians' attitude towards smoking may help to develop strategies to stimulate patients' treatment. The development of smoking cessation programs meant specifically for physicians may also be a strategy to enhance patients' treatment.

Smoking habits among healthcare professionals in family medicine in Republic of Srpska

“…Najveći procenat doktora medicine (35,3%) ima pušački staž između 20 i 29 godina dok 29,1% medicinskih tehničara puši više od 30 godina. Slični nalazi sa dugim pušačkim stažom zdravstvenih radnika su potvrđeni i u svjetskim studijama [19][20][21].…”

“…Više od polovine zdravstvenih radnika u službi porodične medicine u Republici Srpskoj planira prestanak pušenja, što odgovara nalazima studije sprovedene među doktorima zaposlenim u privatnim bolnicama u Brazilu, gdje 73,7% planira prestanak pušenja duvana [21]. Prema našim rezultatima 64,3% zdrav-stvenih radnika je pokušalo prestati pušiti 1-8 puta, dok je u Francuskoj studiji [22] 75,9% zdravstvenih radnika pokušalo prestati pušiti najmanje tri puta, a u studiji sprovedenoj među bolničkim zdravstvenim radnicima u Srbiji ovaj procenat je niži (59%) [19].…”

“…U kanadskoj studiji pušači su značajnije zainteresovani za učenje metoda podrške odvikavanja od pušenja duvana u poređenju sa nepušačima i onima koji su prestali pušiti ali i rjeđe savjetuju pacijente o procesu odvikavanja od pušenja duvana u odnosu na nepušače [24]. U našoj studiji više od četvrtine zdravstvenih radnika ima potrebu za učešćem u programu odvikavanja od pušenja duvana, što odgovara nalazima studija sprovedenim među zdravstvenim radnicima u drugim zemljama [16][17][18]21]. Studija sprovedena među porodičnim doktorima u edukativnom trening centru u Južnoj Floridi prikazuje da nije bilo značajne razlike u ponašanju i stavovima prema odvikavanju od pušenja duvana među ljekarima koji su završili trening program, ali su svakako familijarnost sa vodičima i nivo znanja značajno veći nakon treninga, što ukazuje na potrebu provođenja ovakvih edukaciju u praksi zdravstvenih radnika [25].…”

Use of Smoking Cessation Interventions by Physicians in Argentina

“…Physician smoking status was a negative predictor of cessation success in several studies (Huang et al, 2013; Juliao et al, 2013; Ng et al, 2007; Noble, Perez Stable, & Casal, 1996; Pipe et al, 2009; Ulbricht et al, 2009), but it showed no effect on others (Gigliotti et al, 2013; Sadowski et al, 2009). Physician gender has also shown conflicting results (Frank & Harvey, 1996;Soto Mas et al, 2005; Soto Mas et al, 2008; Zhou et al, 2010).…”

“…Moreover, brief physician-implemented counselling interventions can increase the absolute rate of cessation by 1% to 3% (Alba, Murillo, & Castillo, 2013; Stead et al, 2013). However, despite the efforts to promote physician-led interventions for smoking cessation, few clinicians consistently implement them (Huang et al, 2013; Kruger et al, 2012; Lee et al, 2007; Pipe, Sorensen, & Reid, 2009) particularly in Latin American countries (Gigliotti et al, 2013; Juliao et al, 2013; Mejia et al, 2010). Physicians have also reported lack of training to help their patients quit and limited time for counselling during clinic visits (Perez-Stable et al, 2001; Soto Mas et al, 2005; Vogt, Hall, & Marteau, 2005; Warren, Jones, & Chauvin, 2008).…”