Smoking prevalence, attitudes, and perceived smoking prevention and control responsibilities and practices among nurses in Amman, Jordan

Abstract

This study assesses smoking prevalence, attitudes, and perceived patient counselling responsibilities among practicing nurses in Amman, Jordan. It also identifies whether their smoking status or training in counselling patients about smoking is associated with their smoking-related attitudes and counselling practices. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 266 (n = 266) nurses at four public and private hospitals in Amman. Smoking prevalence was 42% for male nurses and 13% for female nurses. Nurses strongly favoured enforcement of anti-smoking policy, but did not strongly agree that nurses should be involved in counselling patients about smoking. Approximately 41% of nurses indicated that they had received training on counselling patients about smoking. Nurse training with respect to counselling patients about smoking was positively associated with the nurses' belief that their counselling could help patients stop or never start smoking. In addition, nurses with counselling training about smoking felt significantly better prepared to assist patients to quit smoking. Nurses who smoked were significantly less likely to believe their counselling of patients about smoking could be effective. Finally, smoking status was not significantly associated with how well prepared the nurses felt to assist patients to quit smoking. These findings identify a need for more extensive and better-tailored training programmes for nurses on patient counselling about smoking.

Smoking habits in the Middle East and North Africa: Results of the BREATHE study

“…Nonetheless, the gender-specific smoking rates reported in our study are comparable to those previously reported in most cases. For example, current smoking rates in men in these studies have previously been reported to range from 25.4% in Pakistan to 58.0% in Turkey (48.6% in Algeria, 14 37.7% in Egypt, 15~5 0% in Jordan, 16,17 55.2% in Lebanon, 18 31.5% in Morocco, 19 25.4% in Pakistan, 20 56.9% in Syria, 21 58.0% in Turkey 22 and 28.1% in UAE 2 ). In addition, in these national studies, published current smoking rates in women are generally very low and range from 0.5% in Egypt to 44.8% in Lebanon (6.8% in Algeria, 14 0.5% in Egypt, 15 10% in Jordan, 17 44.8% in Lebanon, 18 3.1% in Morocco, 19 3.5% in Pakistan, 20 17.0% in Syria, 21 22% in Turkey 22 and 2.4% in UAE 2 ).…”

The Economics of Tobacco Use in Jordan

“…These prevalences are slightly higher than those reported in the overall Jordanian population, listed above. Interestingly, while nurses who participated in this study favored anti-smoking policies, they did not necessarily agree that nurses should council patients about quitting smoking (Merrill, Madanat et al 2010). Of note, a cross-sectional study of 251 physicians from public and private hospitals suggests that the prevalence of smoking among physicians is actually much lower.…”

Prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe tobacco smoking among adults in three Eastern Mediterranean countries: a cross-sectional household survey

“…11 Other surveillance efforts in the region have been limited to specific populations, such as youth, 12 university students, 13 14 and healthcare professionals. 15 These limitations in the available smoking prevalence data justify the need for detailed national prevalence data on both cigarette and waterpipe smoking among adults in Eastern Mediterranean countries.…”