OBJECTIVES: To determine: 1) the extent of emergency physicians' (EPs') training in smoking cessation counseling; 2) their understanding of counseling and pharmacologic treatment techniques; 3) their current practices in screening, counseling, and referring patients who smoke; and 4) perceived barriers to routine smoking cessation counseling in emergency medical practice. METHODS: A 26-item questionnaire addressing the above issues was mailed to all 256 members of the Colorado Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 196 physicians (77% response rate). The majority of respondents were men (80%), practiced in urban settings (87%), and were board-certified in emergency medicine (82%). Most EPs lacked formal smoking cessation training (55%) and felt poorly prepared to counsel patients about smoking cessation (65%). A minority (27%) of the physicians reported routinely asking patients to quit smoking. The physicians with formal smoking cessation training were more likely to counsel and refer patients routinely (34% vs 20%, p = 0.03). The physicians cited the following barriers to routine smoking cessation counseling: a lack of time; a perception that patients are not interested; a belief that the ED setting is inappropriate for counseling; and a sense that counseling is ineffective. Lack of reimbursement was cited by only 13% of the respondents. The physicians who had formal smoking cessation training perceived fewer barriers to ED-based counseling. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency physicians have received little training in smoking cessation and perceive many barriers to ED-based smoking cessation interventions. Not surprisingly, they infrequently take action to encourage or assist their patients to quit smoking.
OBJECTIVES: To determine: 1) the extent of emergency physicians' (EPs') training in smoking cessation counseling; 2) their understanding of counseling and pharmacologic treatment techniques; 3) their current practices in screening, counseling, and referring patients who smoke; and 4) perceived barriers to routine smoking cessation counseling in emergency medical practice. METHODS: A 26-item questionnaire addressing the above issues was mailed to all 256 members of the Colorado Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were returned by 196 physicians (77% response rate). The majority of respondents were men (80%), practiced in urban settings (87%), and were board-certified in emergency medicine (82%). Most EPs lacked formal smoking cessation training (55%) and felt poorly prepared to counsel patients about smoking cessation (65%). A minority (27%) of the physicians reported routinely asking patients to quit smoking. The physicians with formal smoking cessation training were more likely to counsel and refer patients routinely (34% vs 20%, p = 0.03). The physicians cited the following barriers to routine smoking cessation counseling: a lack of time; a perception that patients are not interested; a belief that the ED setting is inappropriate for counseling; and a sense that counseling is ineffective. Lack of reimbursement was cited by only 13% of the respondents. The physicians who had formal smoking cessation training perceived fewer barriers to ED-based counseling. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency physicians have received little training in smoking cessation and perceive many barriers to ED-based smoking cessation interventions. Not surprisingly, they infrequently take action to encourage or assist their patients to quit smoking.
Authors: Marian E Betz; Steven L Bernstein; Deborah C Gutman; Carrie D Tibbles; Nina R Joyce; Robert I Lipton; Lisa M Schweigler; Jonathan Fisher Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Elizabeth L Walters; Ellen T Reibling; Scott T Wilber; Ashley F Sullivan; Theodore J Gaeta; Carlos A Camargo; Edwin D Boudreaux Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2014-08-11 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: David A Katz; Mark W Vander Weg; John Holman; Andrew Nugent; Laurence Baker; Skyler Johnson; Stephen L Hillis; Marita Titler Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: Edwin D Boudreaux; Kristyna L Bedek; Donna Gilles; Brigitte M Baumann; Steven Hollenberg; Sherrill A Lord; Grant Grissom Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2008-09-04 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: E Melinda Mahabee-Gittens; Judith S Gordon; Matthew E Krugh; Brian Henry; Anthony C Leonard Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: David A Katz; Monica W Paez; Heather S Reisinger; Meghan T Gillette; Mark W Vander Weg; Marita G Titler; Andrew S Nugent; Laurence J Baker; John E Holman; Sarah S Ono Journal: Addict Sci Clin Pract Date: 2014-01-24