[Views, practices, barriers, and the will to change, when counselling to give up smoking is being given]

Abstract

Objective: To get to know the opinions, current practices, perceived barriers and stage of change in respect to the smoking cessation advice (SCA) offered to patients by the different health professionals (HP) from primary care.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Location: Area Sanitaria 9's Health Centers, in Madrid, Spain.

Participants: 480 HPs, including primary care doctors, pediatricians, primary care residents, and nursery staff.

Measurements: Using a self-filled and anonymous questionnaire, we will gather sociodemographic variables and from the HP's office, regarding the attitudes towards tobacco, efficiency beliefs and use of strategies in the advice, and the perceived barriers to give it, as well as the state of change.

Results: 75.2% of the HPs filled the questionnaire (94.2%, 61.1%, 51.6%, and 88% by doctors, nurses, pediatricians, and residents respectively). 72% ask regularly, this rate increasing to 92.4% over tobacco-related diseases. No differences were made between sexes, professional types, tobacco habits, or previous attendance to courses. 85.8% offers tracing and 63.5% give written advices. Nearly 75% of non-smokers are considered social role models, that against only 40% of smokers. The main barriers found were lack of time and low motivation from the patients. 93.5% consider an specific education necessary to give efficient SCA.

Conclusions: Inquiries are made and SCA is given, independently of the smoking habits of the SCA. Likewise, there is a good state of change by the HPs to optimize the treatment of tobacco dependency.