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Comparative Study
. 2007 Jun;22(6):749-54.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-007-0158-8. Epub 2007 Mar 1.

Decreased awareness of current smoking among health care providers of HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative veterans

Kristina Crothers  1 , Joseph L Goulet, Maria C Rodriguez-Barradas, Cynthia L Gibert, Adeel A Butt, R Scott Braithwaite, Robin Peck, Amy C Justice
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Decreased awareness of current smoking among health care providers of HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative veterans

Kristina Crothers et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality in HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To determine whether awareness of smoking differs between HIV and non-HIV providers, and to identify factors associated with failure to recognize current smoking.

Design: Observational study.

Participants: 801 HIV-positive and 602 HIV-negative patients, 72 HIV and 71 non-HIV providers enrolled in the Veterans Aging Cohort 5 Site Study.

Measurements: Data sources included patient and provider questionnaires; electronic medical records; and the national administrative VA database. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and measures of agreement between patient- and provider-reported smoking, and examined factors associated with failure to recognize current smoking using logistic regression.

Results: Whereas most providers were correct when they identified a patient as a current smoker (specificity > or = 90%), HIV providers missed current smoking more often (sensitivity 65% for HIV vs. 82% for non-HIV). Kappa scores for current smoking were significantly lower for HIV compared to non-HIV providers (0.55 vs. 0.75, p < .001). In models adjusted for age, gender, race, and other differences, patient HIV status and provider specialty in infectious diseases were independent predictors of a provider's failure to recognize current smoking. Comorbid illnesses, cough/dyspnea, degree of immune competence and HIV viral suppression did not impact recognition of current smoking. Only 39% of HIV providers reported confidence in their ability to influence smoking cessation compared to 62% of non-HIV providers (p = .049).

Conclusions: Interventions to increase HIV provider awareness of current smoking and skills to influence smoking cessation are needed. Efforts should also target patient populations with smoking-related comorbid diseases who would especially benefit from smoking cessation.

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