Tobacco cessation in Vietnam: Exploring the role of village health workers

The purpose of this study was to explore current tobacco use treatment (TUT) practice patterns, and attitudes and beliefs among Village Health Workers (VHWs) about expanding their role to include delivering smoking cessation interventions and the perceived barriers. We conducted a survey of 449 VHWs from 26 communes in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. We assessed TUT practice patterns including asking about tobacco use, advising smokers to quit, offering assistance (3As) and attitudes, self-efficacy, and norms related to TUT. Seventy two per cent of VHWs reported asking patients if they use tobacco, 78.6% offered advice to quit, and 41.4% offered cessation assistance to few or more patients in the past month. Self-efficacy was low, with 53.2% agreeing that they did not have the skills to counsel patients about smoking cessation. The most commonly reported barriers to offering TUT were a lack of training and perceived lack of patient interest. Greater awareness of their commune health centre’s smoke-free policy and higher levels of self-efficacy were associated with screening and offering cessation assistance. VHWs support an expanded role in tobacco cessation, but require additional resources and training to increase their self-efficacy and skills to provide effective treatment.     

Hispanic physicians' tobacco intervention practices: a cross-sectional survey study

Background  

U.S. Hispanic physicians constitute a considerable professional collective, and they may be most suited to attend to the health education needs of the growing U.S. Hispanic population. These educational needs include tobacco use prevention and smoking cessation. However, there is a lack of information on Hispanic physicians' tobacco intervention practices, their level of awareness and use of cessation protocols, and the type of programs that would best address their tobacco training needs. The purpose of this study was to assess the tobacco intervention practices and training needs of Hispanic physicians.     

Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Participation in a Community Pharmacy-Based Nicotine Replacement Therapy Distribution Program

The community pharmacy has been proposed as an ideal location for providing smoking cessation therapy to large numbers of patients. Studies of public health initiatives providing free nicotine replacement products through telephone quitlines have found increased call volumes and cessation rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a program where nicotine replacement therapy starter packs were provided to patients through community pharmacies at no cost. An online survey was developed to assess community pharmacists' participation in the program, perceptions of the initiative as a whole, and perceptions of smoking cessation counseling activities. Eighty-three pharmacists working at participating pharmacies completed the survey (65% response rate). Ninety-nine percent of pharmacists provided smoking cessation counseling during the study period; the median (IQR) number of patients counseled over the initial 3.5-months of the NRT distribution program was 50 (24-100), and the median number of minutes per counseling session was five (3-7). Most (89%) agreed smoking cessation counseling was accommodated into the pharmacy work-flow. A majority (85%) agreed the community pharmacy is an ideal location for distributing free NRT products and that the program should be replicated in other pharmacies (78%). Participating pharmacists viewed the program positively and perceived it to be effective in helping patients quit smoking. In conclusion, the community pharmacy is a viable location for implementation of community-based public health initiatives related to smoking cessation.     

Direct observation of smoking cessation activities in primary care practice

OBJECTIVE: Our goals were to determine how often family physicians incorporate smoking cessation efforts into routine office visits and to examine the effect of patient, physician, and office characteristics on the frequency of these efforts. STUDY DESIGN: Data was gathered using direct observation of physician-patient encounters, a survey of physicians, and an on-site examination of office systems for supporting smoking cessation. POPULATION: We included patients seen for routine office visits in 38 primary care physician practices. OUTCOMES MEASURED: The frequency of tobacco discussions among all patients, the extent of these discussions among smokers, and the presence of tobacco-related systems and policies in physicians' offices were measured. RESULTS: Tobacco was discussed during 633 of 2963 encounters (21%; range among practices = 0%-90%). Discussion of tobacco was more common in the 58% of practices that had standard forms for recording smoking status (26% vs 16%; P=.01). Tobacco discussions were more common during new patient visits but occurred less often with older patients and among physicians in practice more than 10 years. Of 244 smokers identified, physicians provided assistance with smoking cessation for 38% (range among practices = 0%-100%). Bupropion and nicotine-replacement therapy were discussed with smokers in 31% and 17% of encounters, respectively. Although 68% of offices had smoking cessation materials for patients, few recorded tobacco use in the "vital signs" section of the patient history or assigned smoking-related tasks to nonphysician personnel. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation practices vary widely in primary care offices. Strategies are needed to assist physicians with incorporating systematic approaches to maximize smoking cessation rates.     

Media and community campaign effects on adult tobacco use in Texas

The present study reports on the effects on adult tobacco cessation of a comprehensive tobacco-use prevention and cessation program in the state of Texas. Differences in cessation rates across treatment conditions were measured by following a panel of 622 daily smokers, recruited from the original cross-sectional sample, from baseline to follow-up. The adult media campaign combined television, radio, newspaper and billboard advertisements featuring messages and outreach programs to help adults avoid or quit using tobacco products. The ads also promoted quitting assistance programs from the American Cancer Society Smokers' Quitline, a telephone counseling service. The cessation component of the intervention focused on increasing availability of and access to cessation counseling services and pharmacological therapy to reduce nicotine dependence. Both clinical and community-based cessation programs were offered. Treatment areas which combined cessation activities with high level media campaigns had a rate of smoking reduction that almost tripled rates in areas which received no services, and almost doubled rates in areas with media campaigns alone. Analyses of the dose of exposure to media messages about smoking cessation show greater exposure to television and radio messages in the areas where high level media was combined with community cessation activities than in the other areas. Results also show that exposure to media messages was related to processes of change in smoking cessation and that those processes were related to the quitting that was observed in the group receiving the most intensive campaigns.     

The primary care pediatrician's influence on medical student's performance of smoking assessments and counseling

BACKGROUND: American medical schools lack significant educational programs for teaching medical students about counseling parents and children on smoking prevention and cessation. Thus, the objectives of this study were to describe medical student's self-reported behaviors in the assessment of parents and children's use of tobacco and to compare these practices with well-accepted pediatric activities: injury prevention and developmental assessment. METHODS: Third year medical students in a pediatric clerkship at Boston University, all of whom spend part of their clerkship with pediatricians in their offices, completed six weekly surveys (2001-2002) recording their clinical activities in counseling parents and children about smoking, injury prevention, and performing developmental assessments. RESULTS: Of the 150 third year students completing the pediatric orientation, 108 (72%) completed all six feedback surveys and the general cancer prevention survey. Of the 108 students, 77% completed smoking assessments with at least one family per week during their 6-week clerkship compared with performance of injury prevention (85%, P = 0.09) and developmental assessment (91%, P = 0.006). Among all smoking cessation and prevention recommendations, students were most likely to discourage parents from smoking in the house and least likely to offer tips for parents to counsel their children about smoking. All variables related to primary care pediatricians' role modeling and feedback for optimal tobacco counseling practices were significantly associated with student counseling practice. CONCLUSIONS: Third year medical students were less likely to complete smoking assessments than those for developmental assessment and injury prevention counseling. However, primary care pediatricians' strong expectations and modeling of smoking counseling were uniformly associated with improved self-perceived student performance. Future educational activities should engage the primary care pediatrician preceptors of students completing pediatric rotations.     

Implementing guidelines for smoking cessation advice in Australian general practice: opinions, current practices, readiness to change and perceived barriers

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to ascertain opinions, current practices, likely readiness to change and perceived barriers to change among Australian GPs in order to develop a plan to implement national guidelines for smoking cessation advice. METHOD: A postal survey of randomly selected GPs in New South Wales, Australia was carried out. RESULTS: We received 311 returned questionnaires (73% response rate). Only 34% of respondents reported providing cessation advice during every routine consultation with a smoker, in accordance with national guidelines. Specific evidence-based approaches recommended in guidelines were under-utilized, with only 54% 'always' or 'frequently' arranging follow-up, 32% providing written materials and 28% setting a 'quit date'. Respondents were no more likely to advise quitting completely than the less effective method of nicotine fading. More than one in four respondents (28%) indicated readiness to change their behaviour. Respondents rated their patients' lack of motivation and uninterest as the most important barriers to smoking cessation advice in general practice. Neither uncertainty about effective smoking cessation strategies nor lack of reimbursement for smoking cessation advice were identified as barriers. CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent intervention to address suboptimal behaviour and barriers as revealed by this survey holds considerable potential to plan effective implementation of smoking cessation guidelines in general practice. The use of readiness to change as a tool to 'individualize' strategies for guideline implementation should be explored.     

An inter-university diploma on tobacco and smoking cessation: pedagogical evaluation and professional impact

The aim of the post-graduate degree course on tobacco and smoking cessation is to train professionals who have dedicated themselves to the fight against tobacco and smoking. An educational assessment of the degree programme was carried out in order to evaluate its impact on practice. A questionnaire was mailed to 60 students registered in the programme at Strasbourg University between 1997 and 2002 (with a response rate of 71.6%). The evaluation was able to shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of the teaching in the programme and the level of student satisfaction. The tobacco control and smoking cessation interventions of the students before and after completing the course were compared in order to assess the impact on their professional practice. The programme's participants came from a variety of professions including medical doctors (74.4%), paramedical staff (16.3%) and other professions (6.9%). The students acknowledged the course's high level of quality (the teachers were appreciated, and the programme was comprehensive). The structure of the course was operational; however, the students admitted that they felt that the practical application and the interactive aspects of the learning (such as case studies, role playing, training in a specific smoking cessation intervention were insufficient. They also noted a lack of emphasis on treatments that do not rely on pharmacotherapy such as behavioural therapy and psychological support. Tobacco cessation related problems or side effects of quitting like weight gain, anxiety or insomnia were not appropriately developed. The majority of students were very satisfied with the theoretical basis of the curriculum and with their internship in a tobacco cessation consultation intervention. Today, 69% of the students trained are working in smoking cessation and tobacco control. They have been able to diversify their activities, going from prevention to tobacco cessation, and vice versa. Course tracks focusing on pregnant women, adolescents and behavioural therapies have now been introduced into the degree programme. In terms of further investing in the improvement of skills and competencies, the programme could better respond to the students' needs by taking into account the development of interactive teaching methods such as role playing and workshops.     

Impact of patient characteristics on physician's smoking cessation strategies

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions may be influenced by a variety of patient characteristics, including level of nicotine addiction and readiness to change. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between these characteristics and the frequency of physician-initiated smoking cessation interventions. METHODS: We identified smokers seen during office visits to 1 of 38 primary care physicians in rural Kansas. Trained students observed the frequency and nature of doctor-patient discussions related to tobacco. Telephone surveys were conducted with these patients 1 to 3 days after the office visit. RESULTS: We completed observations and telephone surveys on 259 smokers. Tobacco-related discussions occurred during 66% of doctor-patient encounters. Although discussions overall were unrelated to a patient's readiness to quit, specific assistance with smoking cessation was offered less often to precontemplators (15%) than to contemplators (31%) or those preparing to quit (37%) (P < 0.05). While bupropion was discussed with 23% of smokers, nicotine replacement therapy was discussed with 12% and was unrelated to markers of nicotine addiction. CONCLUSIONS: Current efforts to promote smoking cessation are only marginally related to patient characteristics. Doctors are missing many opportunities to effectively intervene with patients who are contemplating smoking cessation or preparing to quit.     

A systematic primary care office-based smoking cessation program

There is a large discrepancy between apparent potential and actual practice of smoking cessation activities by physicians. This paper describes the 2-year results of an integrated system to support such physician activities with all of their tobacco-using patients. The system consists of organized identification, progress records, brief physician messages, follow-up, and assistance; it focuses on those most interested in quitting. Introduction of the system to one clinic was associated with an initial threefold to fivefold increase in quit rates of all clinic patients using tobacco. After 2 years, the overall quit rate was approximately 20%, rising to 33% for those tobacco users with more clinic contacts or at least 1 year from the first to the latest contact. Such a program has been well accepted by patients, physicians, and office staff and seems to provide the support needed for a feasible and effective long-term smoking cessation intervention in primary care practices.     

Addressing tobacco in managed care: a survey of dentists' knowledge,attitudes, and behaviors

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the tobacco cessation knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of dentists participating in a large managed care dental plan. METHODS: Participating dentists in 4 states were surveyed via mail. RESULTS: Dentists' perceived success in helping patients quit using tobacco was highly correlated with discussion of specific strategies for quitting, advice about the use of nicotine gum, and time spent counseling patients. Dentists who were confident about their smoking cessation knowledge frequently advised patients to quit and spent more time counseling patients about tobacco cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco cessation is not a routine part of dental practice. Knowledge, time spent counseling patients, and specific strategies for quitting were associated with dentists' perceptions of success.     

Tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and cessation counseling among health professions students: greek data from the global health professions student Survey (GHPSS)

We conducted the GHPSS (Global Health Professions Student Survey) to obtain information regarding health profession students' smoking habits and perceptions, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) as well as level of knowledge and training on tobacco use and smoking cessation counseling. GHPSS is a survey for third-year students in the following fields: health visitors, dentistry, medicine, nursing and/or pharmacy. The highest tobacco use prevalence rate and exposure to SHS were recorded among health visitor students with 46.4% and 33.3% respectively. The majority of the respondents believed that their profession serves as a role model for their patients. Formal training on cessation counseling ranged between 10.7% for health visitor students to 22.4% for nursing students. The relatively high percentage of health profession students who currently smoke and the alarmingly high percentage of those exposed to SHS indicate lack of concerted efforts for implementation and effective enforcement of the anti-tobacco policy measures. Despite its significance, formal training on cessation counseling for students is strikingly low. These results indicate the urgent need to train health professional students on tobacco cessation counseling and educate them on the dangers of tobacco use, SHS and the positively influential role they can play to affect their patients' smoking habits.     

北京市丰台区1182名医务人员吸烟及控烟情况调查

目的了解丰台区医务人员吸烟及控烟情况，为下一步开展医院控烟工作提供基础资料。方法采用分层抽样的方法抽取北京市丰台区一、二、三级医院各2家，再在被抽中的医院中以系统抽样的方式抽取1182名医务人员进行问卷调查。调查内容包括一般情况、吸烟和戒烟情况、医院控烟情况。结果男性吸烟率为41．8％，女性吸烟率为0．8％，男性高于女性（P〈0．01）。男性中，医生的吸烟率为31．5％，后勤人员吸烟率为75．6％。不同文化程度者吸烟率不同，中专及以下者吸烟率最高，平均为13．6％，其中男性为69．2％，女性为1．7％。在吸烟者中，有54．0％的人曾经戒过烟，戒烟失败的主要原因为缺乏意志力，占50．0％。36．0％的医务人员不知道该如何戒烟，只有23．7％知道“五日戒烟法”，3．8％知道“安非他酮是尼古丁替代品”。结论男性医务人员吸烟率高，控烟知识和技能较差，临床医务人员的控烟工作还面临着巨大挑战。     

Rimonabant for treating tobacco dependence

Tobacco use continues to cause 5 million preventable deaths worldwide each year. Despite effective treatments being available, these are underutilized and cessation rates remain low. As tobacco use has complex physiological effects, there are multiple opportunities for novel pharmacological agents to play a role in a comprehensive treatment plan. The endocannabinoid system has been linked to the nicotine reward pathways in animal models. Rimonabant, a selective cannabinoid receptor (type 1) blocker, has been shown in some early clinical trials to have some positive effects in increasing abstinence rates of smokers attempting to stop. In addition, smokers who stop smoking with the assistance of rimonabant may gain less weight than those using placebo. However, the results from these few trials have not been entirely consistent and so its role as an aid to smoking cessation remains to be determined.     

Peer Reviewed: Systems-Level Smoking Cessation Activities by Private Health Plans

Introduction

The US Public Health Service urges providers to screen patients for smoking and advise smokers to quit. Yet, these practices are not widely implemented in clinical practice. This study provides national estimates of systems-level strategies used by private health insurance plans to influence provider delivery of smoking cessation activities.

Methods

Data are from a nationally representative survey of health plans for benefit year 2003, across product types offered by insurers, including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations, and point-of-service products, regarding alcohol, tobacco, drug, and mental health services. Executive directors of 368 health plans responded to the administrative module (83% response rate). Medical directors of 347 of those health plans, representing 771 products, completed the clinical module in which health plan respondents were asked about screening for smoking, guideline distribution, and incentives for guideline adherence.

Results

Only 9% of products require, and 12% verify, that primary care providers (PCPs) screen for smoking. HMOs are more likely than other product types to require screening. Only 17% of products distribute smoking cessation guidelines to PCPs, and HMOs are more likely to do this. Feedback to PCPs was most frequently used to encourage guideline adherence; financial incentives were rarely used. Furthermore, health plans that did require screening often conducted other cessation activities.

Conclusion

Few private health plans have adopted techniques to encourage the use of smoking cessation activities by their providers. Increasing health plan involvement is necessary to reduce tobacco use and concomitant disease in the United States.     

烟台市区妇女吸烟状况调查与对策

为了解市区女性吸烟现状,探讨吸烟与戒烟的影响因素及对策,推进戒烟活动的有效开展。方法对辖区15岁及以上女性2644人进行统一问卷调查。结果该区女性主动吸烟率为2.6%,被动吸烟率为69.7%。超六成被调查女性对吸烟有害健康认识不足。有86%的女性认为妇女可以在戒烟活动中发挥作用,但希望得到有关知识传授和经验指导。结论本次调查表明,女性受烟草危害是一个不可忽略的群体。努力提高保健服务,加强对女性戒烟教育并促使其参与戒烟活动,是创建无烟草环境的重大举措。