Smoking attitudes, behaviours and risk perceptions among primary health care personnel in urban family medicine centers in Alexandria.

Smoking is a major public health problem which is responsible for large number of preventable health problems. Health professionals continue to use tobacco, often at a rate similar to, if not higher than, that of the general public. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of smoking among primary health care (PHC) personnel in 4 randomly selected urban family medicine centers in Alexandria, Egypt and to assess their attitudes, behaviours and risk perceptions towards smoking. A sample of 220 PHC personnel was included in the study. Data collection was done through using a self-administered questionnaire which was composed of 3 main parts regarding: personal data of the PHC personnel, their attitudes' towards smoking, and their personal smoking behaviours and risk perceptions. The results of the present study revealed that the prevalence of current smoking among PHC personnel was high (45%), especially among physicians (51.1%) and nurses (27.3%). Also, 88% of males, 22.7% of females, and 47.6% of married personnel were current smokers. About 59.1% of the PHC personnel had positive attitudes towards smoking cessation, and 17.3% had negative attitudes. Non smoker PHC personnel had statistically significant better attitudes than current smokers. Only 16.8% of PHC personnel found themselves very well prepared to counsel their patients about smoking cessation. Therefore, continuous medical education to all health team members should be encouraged. Smoking cessation activities should be an integral part of the PHC system, and to be provided by all PHC team members during their routine daily activity.