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7thSpace Interactive
Nov 24 2012
Smoking behavior, attitudes, and cessation counseling among healthcare
professionals in Armenia
Smoking cessation counseling by health professionals has been
effective in increasing cessation rates. However, little is known
about smoking cessation training and practices in transition countries
with high smoking prevalence such as Armenia.
This study identified smoking-related attitudes and behavior of
physicians and nurses in a 500-bed hospital in Yerevan, Armenia, the
largest cancer hospital in the country, and explored barriers to their
effective participation in smoking cessation interventions.
Methods: This study used mixed quantitative and qualitative methods.
Trained interviewers conducted a survey with physicians and nurses
using a 42-item self-administered questionnaire that assessed their
smoking-related attitudes and behavior and smoking cessation
counseling training.
Four focus group discussions with hospital physicians and nurses
explored barriers to effective smoking cessation interventions. The
focus group sessions were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed.
Results: The survey response rate was 58.5 % (93/159) for physicians
and 72.2 % (122/169) for nurses.
Smoking prevalence was almost five times higher in physicians compared
to nurses (31.2 % vs. 6.6 %, p
Nov 24 2012
Smoking behavior, attitudes, and cessation counseling among healthcare
professionals in Armenia
Smoking cessation counseling by health professionals has been
effective in increasing cessation rates. However, little is known
about smoking cessation training and practices in transition countries
with high smoking prevalence such as Armenia.
This study identified smoking-related attitudes and behavior of
physicians and nurses in a 500-bed hospital in Yerevan, Armenia, the
largest cancer hospital in the country, and explored barriers to their
effective participation in smoking cessation interventions.
Methods: This study used mixed quantitative and qualitative methods.
Trained interviewers conducted a survey with physicians and nurses
using a 42-item self-administered questionnaire that assessed their
smoking-related attitudes and behavior and smoking cessation
counseling training.
Four focus group discussions with hospital physicians and nurses
explored barriers to effective smoking cessation interventions. The
focus group sessions were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed.
Results: The survey response rate was 58.5 % (93/159) for physicians
and 72.2 % (122/169) for nurses.
Smoking prevalence was almost five times higher in physicians compared
to nurses (31.2 % vs. 6.6 %, p