Providing brief interventions and smoking prevalence in employees of the Královské Vinohrady Teaching Hospital and Third Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague
Abstract
Aim: The aim of the survey was to assess providing brief interventions related to smoking in patients and smoking prevalence in health professionals - employees of the Královské Vinohrady Teaching Hospital and Third Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague in the course of the process of engagement into the Global Network for Tobacco-free Healthcare Services. Methods: A survey designed to obtain information on smoking status, cessation attempts and providing brief interventions in patients was conducted during preventive examinations at the Clinic of Occupational and Travel Medicine using a questionnaire adapted by the Society for Tobacco Dependence Treatment between May 2014 and May 2015.
The anonymous questionnaire was administered in 875 employees with response rate 72%. Results: 32% of employees reported that they are regular smokers (at least 1 cigarette a day) and 5.5% occasional smokers.
The share of regular smokers was the lowest among physicians (8.5%), then pharmacists (16.7%), nurses (33.7%) and nursing staff (31.6%) and the highest (43,1%) among other employees. 58.6% of physicians and 52.7% of nurses reported that they ask their patients about smoking. 47.3% of physicians and 50.5% of nurses reported that they assess patient's readiness to quit smoking. Only 3.8 % of physicians and 3.2 % of nurses invite their patients for controls due to the tobacco dependence treatment.
Conclusions: Smoking in health professionals undermines their significant role in health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases in their patients. Further education should motivate health professionals towards non-smoking and provide knowledge on current research on health impact of smoking and guidance on early identification and further intervention and counseling in smokers in their medical practice.
Smoking health professionals should be encouraged to use the services of specialized centers for the treatment of tobacco dependence.