Smoking attitudes, behaviours and risk perceptions among primary health care personnel in urban family medicine centers in Alexandria
Author: Sabra AA
Source:
The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 82(1-2), 43-64.
Smoking is a major public health problem which is responsible for large number of
preventable health problems. Health professionals continue to use tobacco, often
at a rate similar to, if not higher than, that of the general public. The aim of
the present study was to estimate the prevalence of smoking among primary health
care (PHC) personnel in 4 randomly selected urban family medicine centers in
Alexandria, Egypt and to assess their attitudes, behaviours and risk perceptions
towards smoking. A sample of 220 PHC personnel was included in the study. Data
collection was done through using a self-administered questionnaire which was
composed of 3 main parts regarding: personal data of the PHC personnel, their
attitudes' towards smoking, and their personal smoking behaviours and risk
perceptions. The results of the present study revealed that the prevalence of
current smoking among PHC personnel was high (45%), especially among physicians
(51.1%) and nurses (27.3%). Also, 88% of males, 22.7% of females, and 47.6% of
married personnel were current smokers. About 59.1% of the PHC personnel had
positive attitudes towards smoking cessation, and 17.3% had negative attitudes.
Non smoker PHC personnel had statistically significant better attitudes than
current smokers. Only 16.8% of PHC personnel found themselves very well prepared
to counsel their patients about smoking cessation. Therefore, continuous medical
education to all health team members should be encouraged. Smoking cessation
activities should be an integral part of the PHC system, and to be provided by
all PHC team members during their routine daily activity.