The Role of Health Care Professionals in Providing Smoking Cessation Advice in Najran Armed Forces Hospital, KSA

Abstract

Background: Smoking is an established risk factor for many diseases and is one of the most important public health problems worldwide. According to the WHO, medical and paramedical staff can influence positively or negatively the smoking habits of a community. Objective: To explore the predictors of providing smoking cessation advice by medical and paramedical staff. Methods: We have conducted a cross-sectional study from April, 2014 through May, 2014 in Najran Armed Forces Hospital. Data collection was done using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. Results: The study included 128 health care professionals. The mean age and standard deviation of the study group was 33.8 ± 8.10 years. The overall prevalence of tobacco use among medical and para-medical staff amounted to 21.1%. The prevalence among male health care providers amounted to 37.5% compared to 9.4% among females. The highest prevalence of tobacco use was among physicians (33.3%) followed by technicians (24.2%) and nurses (11.3%). More than 16% of the medical and paramedical staff didn't at all ask patients about their smoking status and only 40 % of them do that from time to time. Nurses were found to be significant predictors in providing smoking cessation advice to patients compared to physicians (aOR = 5.21, 95% CI: 1.1-25.1). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of smoking habit is still higher among persons who understand the related problems of smoking. Nurses are more active than doctors in providing tobacco cessation advice to their patients.

Prevalence and intensity of smoking among healthcare workers and their attitude and behavior towards smoking cessation in the western region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional study

“…Furthermore, this study showed that 86.5% of smokers had very high positive attitudes towards establishing smoking cessation clinics. This is also high compared to that reported in other studies 10,11 . Such results indicate a strong tendency by HCWs to quit smoking and highlight their need for external support.…”

“…In the south-western region of the country, the overall prevalence of tobacco use was 26.3% 10 . A recent cross-sectional study conducted in Najran Armed Forces Hospital concluded that the overall prevalence of tobacco use among medical and paramedical staff was 21.1% 11 . Another study done in the eastern region revealed that 15.1% of healthcare providers were smokers 12 .…”

Impact of Online Education on Nurses’ Delivery of Smoking Cessation Interventions With Implications for Evidence‐Based Practice

“…As the largest group of healthcare professionals, estimated at 19 million worldwide (over 90,000 in Czech Republic, 250,000 in Poland), nurses are uniquely positioned to offer cessation interventions to patients (WHO, ). Nurses’ cessation interventions are effective, and hospitalization offers a good opportunity for smokers to consider quitting (Fiore et al., ; Harrabi, al Harbi, & al Ghamdi, ; Rice, Hartmann‐Boyce, & Stead, ). Nurses are well positioned to deliver tobacco dependence treatment, as nurses’ contact with patients and families throughout hospitalization offer a range of opportunities for this intervention.…”