Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors of Physicians Working in a University Hospital About Smoking Cessation Treatment

Abstract

Aim: Tobacco use is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality and a global public health problem. It is clear that physicians need to increase their awareness, increase their level of knowledge, and change their negative attitudes and behaviours about smoking, which is a risk factor for many preventable diseases in the world. This study was planned to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of physicians working in a university hospital regarding smoking cessation treatments. Material and Method: This study was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The study included 203 physicians. A printed questionnaire form was used to collect data. Nicotine dependence of the participants who smoked cigarettes was evaluated by Fagerström nicotine dependence test (FNBT). Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 statistical package form. A value of p<0.05 was accepted for statistical significance. Results: The mean number of correct answers given by the participants to a total of 20 questions measuring the level of knowledge about smoking cessation counselling was 13.41±3.80. Among the physicians, 14.3% (n=29) had received smoking cessation counselling training and 85.7% (n=174) had not received any training. When the knowledge scores of the participants were analyzed according to the status of receiving smoking cessation counselling training, it was seen that the mean correct answers given to the knowledge questions by the participants who received training were significantly higher (p=0.023). Conclusion: In addition to receiving smoking cessation counselling training, participants' having more time spent in medical education, such as being a specialist and lecturer, was found to be associated with higher awareness of smoking and more positive attitudes and behaviours regarding smoking cessation treatments. Increasing the number and quality of trainings related to smoking and smoking cessation counselling will make significant contributions to the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of physicians on this issue.

Keywords

• Smoking
• smoking cessation
• physicians

References

1. Ngaruiya C, Abubakar H, Kiptui D. et al. Tobacco use and its determinants in the 2015 Kenya WHO STEPS survey. BMC Public Health. 2018;18:1223.
2. World Health Organization. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2008: the MPOWER package: World Health Organization; 2008. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241596282 acces date 10.05.2024.
3. Bilir N. Dünyada ve Türkiye’de tütün kullanımı epidemiyolojisi. In: Tütün ve Tütün Kontrolü. 1st edition. Toraks Kitapları, Ankara, 2010;21-35.
4. Küresel Yetişkin Tütün Araştırması, Türkiye, 2016. https://halksagligi.hacettepe.edu.tr/duyurular/halkayonelik/kyta2016.pdf access date 10.05.2024.
5. Schwartz JL. Review and evaluation of methods of smoking cessation, 1969-77. Summary of a monograph. Public Health Rep. 1979;94:558-63.
6. Kutlu R, Vatansev C, Demirbaş N, Taşer S. The frequency of tobacco and tobacco product use in medical faculty students. TJFMPC. 2019;13:219-26.
7. Bozkurt N, Bozkurt AI. Assessment of the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) used in the determination of nicotine dependence and developing a new test for the nicotine dependence. Pamukkale Medical Journal. 2016;9:45-51.
8. Lewis K, Shin D, Davies G. Smoking habits and attitudes toward tobacco bans among United Kingdom hospital staff and students. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2011;15:1122-6.

9. Shahbazi S, Arif AA, Portwood SG, Thompson ME. Risk factors of smoking among health care professionals. J Prim Care Community Health. 2014;5:228-33.
10. Viegas CA, de Andrade AP, Silvestre Rda S. Characteristics of smoking among physicians in the Federal District of Brazil. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33:76-80.
11. Twardella D, Brenner H. Lack of training as a central barrier to the promotion of smoking cessation: a survey among general practitioners in Germany. Eur J Public Health. 2005;15:140-5.
12. Kaneita Y, Ohida T, Uchida T. Prevalence and correlates of smoking among Japanese physicians: result from the 2008 survey on the smoking activities of Japan Medical Association members. JMAJ. 2013;56:253-66.
13. Hu D, Yu J, Chen F. et al. The Chinese physicians' cardiovascular risk evaluation (care) survey: an assessment of physicians' own cardiovascular risks. Heart Asia. 2010;2:89-94.
14. Ravara SB, Calheiros JM, Aguiar P, Barata LT. Smoking behaviour predicts tobacco control attitudes in a high smoking prevalence hospital: A cross-sectional study in a Portuguese teaching hospital prior to the national smoking ban. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:720.
15. Abbritti G, Folletti I, Gambelunghe A. et al. Reduction of tobacco smoking among physicians of a hospital in central Italy. G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2012;34:453-5.
16. Underner M, Laforgue A-V, Chabaud F, Meurice J-C. Influence of doctors' smoking habits on minimal advice for smoking cessation. A survey of 369 general practitioners in the department of Vienne, France. Presse Med. 2004;33:927-9.
17. Zafar M. Prevalence of smoking and associated risk factors among medical professionals in hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Int J Prev Med. 2014;5:457-62.
18. Demir C, Şimşek Z. Physicians' smoking cessation behavior and related factors. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin. 2013;12:501-10.
19. Arpacıoğlu S, Ünübol B. Investigation of changes in alcohol‐smoking usage and related situations in the coronavirus outbreak. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology. 2020;2:128-38.
20. Kayhan Tetik B, Gedik Tekinemre I, Taş S. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking cessation success. J Community Health. 2021;46:471-5.
21. Ozgunay SE, Akca F, Karasu D. et al. Evaluation of fear levels of anesthetists and prophylaxis practices in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. JARSS. 2021;29:25-31.
22. Serez B. Smoking prevalence and related factors in Trakya University health personel. Dissertation, Trakya University, Edirne, 2013.
23. Koç EM, Başer D, Döner P. et al. Determining smoking level of hospital employees and the evaluation of the smoke-free air zone applications. JCEI. 2015;6:33-9.
24. Baltaci D, Bahcebasi T, Aydin LY. et al. Evaluation of smoking habits among Turkish family physicians. Toxicol Ind Health. 2014;30:3-11.
25. Aliskin O, Savas N, Inandi T. et al. Smoking status and level of addiction of health workers in Mustafa Kemal University Hospital. Mustafa Kemal Üniv Tıp Derg. 2015;6:32-42.
26. Cerci CT. Smoking status of family physicians and their knowledge, attitudes and behaviours about smoking cessation treatment. Dissertation. Başkent University, Ankara, 2017.
27. Keten HS, Kahraman H, Üçer H. et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of family physicians about smoking cessation. Türk Aile Hek Derg. 2014;18:58-62.
28. Eroğlu SA. Health professionals’ smoking status and influencing factors in a general state hospital in Istanbul. İst Med J. 2013;14:170-4.
29. Mutlu P, Çeldir Emre J, Dirican N. et al. Hastane personelinde meslek gruplarına göre sigara i̇çme durumu ve sigara bırakma danışma hizmetleri i̇le i̇lgili bilgi düzeyleri. Troia Tıp Dergisi. 2019;1:13-9.
30. Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016. https://extranet.who.int/ncdsmicrodata/index.php/catalog/872 access date 10.05.2024.
31. Ozyurt L. Some aspects of physicians' smoking behaviour evaluation in terms of variables, Gazi University Medical Faculty Example. Master's thesis, Gazi University, Ankara, 2006.
32. Salepçi B, Fidan A, Çağlayan B. et al. Smoking rates of health care workers at a general training hospital in İstanbul and their attitudes and knowledge about smoking. Solunum. 2006;8:156-62.