M Victoria Salgado1,2, Raúl M Mejía2, Celia P Kaplan3, Eliseo J Pérez-Stable4,5. 1. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2. Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3. Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. 4. Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. eliseo.perez-stable@nih.gov. 5. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. eliseo.perez-stable@nih.gov.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physicians in Argentina smoke at rates similar to the general population, and do not have a clear role in tobacco control strategies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the attitudes and knowledge of medical students and recent graduates towards smoking behavior in Argentina. DESIGN: Cross-sectional self-administered online survey conducted in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Medical students and recent medical graduates from the University of Buenos Aires. MAIN MEASURES: Attitudes and knowledge were evaluated by responses to 16 statements regarding the effects of smoking cigarettes and the role of physicians in tobacco control. Rates of agreement with a full ban on indoor smoking in different public settings were assessed. KEY RESULTS: The sample included 1659 participants (response rate: 35.1 %), 453 of whom (27.3 %) were current smokers. Only 52 % of participants agreed that doctors should set an example for their patients by not smoking, 30.9 % thought that medical advice had little effect on patients' cessation behavior, and 19.4 % believed that physicians could decline to care for smoking patients who failed to quit. In adjusted logistic regression models, current smokers had less supportive attitudes about tobacco control and were less likely than non-smokers to agree with a full indoor smoking ban in hospitals (OR: 0.30; 95 % CI 0.16-0.58), universities (OR: 0.55; 95 % CI 0.41-0.73), workplaces (OR: 0.67; 95 % CI 0.50-0.88), restaurants (OR: 0.42; 95 % CI 0.33-0.53), cafes (OR: 0.41; 95 % CI 0.33-0.51), nightclubs (OR: 0.32; 95 % CI 0.25-0.40), and bars (0.35; 95 % CI 0.28-0.45). Recent medical graduates had more accurate knowledge about cessation and were more likely to agree with a full smoking ban in recreational venues. CONCLUSIONS: Although most participants reported a strong anti-tobacco attitude, a proportion still failed to recognize the importance of their role as physicians in tobacco control strategies. Current smokers and current students were less likely to support indoor smoking bans. Specific educational curricula could address these factors.
BACKGROUND: Physicians in Argentina smoke at rates similar to the general population, and do not have a clear role in tobacco control strategies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the attitudes and knowledge of medical students and recent graduates towards smoking behavior in Argentina. DESIGN: Cross-sectional self-administered online survey conducted in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: Medical students and recent medical graduates from the University of Buenos Aires. MAIN MEASURES: Attitudes and knowledge were evaluated by responses to 16 statements regarding the effects of smoking cigarettes and the role of physicians in tobacco control. Rates of agreement with a full ban on indoor smoking in different public settings were assessed. KEY RESULTS: The sample included 1659 participants (response rate: 35.1 %), 453 of whom (27.3 %) were current smokers. Only 52 % of participants agreed that doctors should set an example for their patients by not smoking, 30.9 % thought that medical advice had little effect on patients' cessation behavior, and 19.4 % believed that physicians could decline to care for smoking patients who failed to quit. In adjusted logistic regression models, current smokers had less supportive attitudes about tobacco control and were less likely than non-smokers to agree with a full indoor smoking ban in hospitals (OR: 0.30; 95 % CI 0.16-0.58), universities (OR: 0.55; 95 % CI 0.41-0.73), workplaces (OR: 0.67; 95 % CI 0.50-0.88), restaurants (OR: 0.42; 95 % CI 0.33-0.53), cafes (OR: 0.41; 95 % CI 0.33-0.51), nightclubs (OR: 0.32; 95 % CI 0.25-0.40), and bars (0.35; 95 % CI 0.28-0.45). Recent medical graduates had more accurate knowledge about cessation and were more likely to agree with a full smoking ban in recreational venues. CONCLUSIONS: Although most participants reported a strong anti-tobacco attitude, a proportion still failed to recognize the importance of their role as physicians in tobacco control strategies. Current smokers and current students were less likely to support indoor smoking bans. Specific educational curricula could address these factors.
Entities:
Keywords:
Latin America; attitudes; medical students; smoking
Authors: G La Torre; W Kirch; M Bes-Rastrollo; R M Ramos; M Czaplicki; M R Gualano; K Thümmler; W Ricciardi; A Boccia Journal: Public Health Date: 2011-12-15 Impact factor: 2.427
Authors: James F Thrasher; James D Sargent; Liling Huang; Edna Arillo-Santillán; Ana Dorantes-Alonso; Rosaura Pérez-Hernández Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Abu S Abdullah; Frances A Stillman; Li Yang; Hongye Luo; Zhiyong Zhang; Jonathan M Samet Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2013-12-30 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Ewa Rodakowska; Marta Mazur; Joanna Baginska; Teresa Sierpinska; Giuseppe La Torre; Livia Ottolenghi; Valeria D'Egidio; Fabrizio Guerra Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-10-13 Impact factor: 3.390