open access
The prevalence of tobacco smoking and attitudes of Polish pulmonologists towards smoking
open access
Abstract
Material and methods: The study was performed in 2006 during national congress of Polish Respiratory Society. The survey was performed using a questionnaire including questions regarding age, sex, professional activities, specialty, academic degree and respondents’ nicotine status, attitude and activity towards smoking patients.
Results: Questionnaires were filled in by 498 physicians: 160 (32.1%) men and 338 (67.9%) women, out of 852 participating physicians (58.5%) who received the questionnaire. There were 11.3% smokers (13.8% men and 10% women), 25.1% of surveyed physicians were ex-smokers, and 63.6% never smokers. 91.4% of respondents always ask patients if they smoke. 87.4% physicians always advise smoking cessation to their patients, but smoking cessation support is offered only by 48% of respondents. Almost half respondents use drugs in nicotine dependence treatment. Majority of respondents (81.1%) think that physician’s attitude influences patient’s behaviour. More than a half (55.7%) think that smoking by physicians is not in accordance with physician’s ethics. 91.4% support smoking ban in public places.
Conclusions: This study found a lower prevalence of smoking among Polish pulmonologists compared with the general population, and with the previous surveys and demonstrated the impact of personal smoking on physicians’ attitudes towards smoking.
Abstract
Material and methods: The study was performed in 2006 during national congress of Polish Respiratory Society. The survey was performed using a questionnaire including questions regarding age, sex, professional activities, specialty, academic degree and respondents’ nicotine status, attitude and activity towards smoking patients.
Results: Questionnaires were filled in by 498 physicians: 160 (32.1%) men and 338 (67.9%) women, out of 852 participating physicians (58.5%) who received the questionnaire. There were 11.3% smokers (13.8% men and 10% women), 25.1% of surveyed physicians were ex-smokers, and 63.6% never smokers. 91.4% of respondents always ask patients if they smoke. 87.4% physicians always advise smoking cessation to their patients, but smoking cessation support is offered only by 48% of respondents. Almost half respondents use drugs in nicotine dependence treatment. Majority of respondents (81.1%) think that physician’s attitude influences patient’s behaviour. More than a half (55.7%) think that smoking by physicians is not in accordance with physician’s ethics. 91.4% support smoking ban in public places.
Conclusions: This study found a lower prevalence of smoking among Polish pulmonologists compared with the general population, and with the previous surveys and demonstrated the impact of personal smoking on physicians’ attitudes towards smoking.
Keywords
smoking prevalence; clinical practice; physicians’ attitudes towards smoking; tobacco smoking; antismoking advice


Title
The prevalence of tobacco smoking and attitudes of Polish pulmonologists towards smoking
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
148-154
Published online
2008-05-22
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2008;76(3):148-154.
Keywords
smoking prevalence
clinical practice
physicians’ attitudes towards smoking
tobacco smoking
antismoking advice
Authors
Małgorzata Czajkowska-Malinowska
Anna Ciesielska
Katarzyna Kruża
Paweł Jesionka