OBJECTIVES: This study determined how often primary care physicians ask adolescents about smoking. METHODS: We surveyed a stratified random sample of community-based, board-certified California physicians, using a mailed questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, physicians (n = 343; 77% response rate) screened younger adolescents for regular smoking during 71.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 67.9, 74.9) of routine physical exams and older adolescents during 84.8% (95% CI = 82.3, 87.4) of such visits. For acute-care visits, the screening rates were 24.4% (95% CI = 20.6, 28.1) for younger and 40.2% (95% CI = 36.4, 44.0) for older adolescents. Physicians asked 18.2% (95% CI = 15.2, 21.3) of younger and 35.6% (95% CI = 32.0, 39.1) of older adolescents about experimental smoking. Screening varied by specialty. CONCLUSIONS: These data imply that physicians are missing opportunities to screen adolescents for smoking.
OBJECTIVES: This study determined how often primary care physicians ask adolescents about smoking. METHODS: We surveyed a stratified random sample of community-based, board-certified California physicians, using a mailed questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, physicians (n = 343; 77% response rate) screened younger adolescents for regular smoking during 71.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 67.9, 74.9) of routine physical exams and older adolescents during 84.8% (95% CI = 82.3, 87.4) of such visits. For acute-care visits, the screening rates were 24.4% (95% CI = 20.6, 28.1) for younger and 40.2% (95% CI = 36.4, 44.0) for older adolescents. Physicians asked 18.2% (95% CI = 15.2, 21.3) of younger and 35.6% (95% CI = 32.0, 39.1) of older adolescents about experimental smoking. Screening varied by specialty. CONCLUSIONS: These data imply that physicians are missing opportunities to screen adolescents for smoking.
Authors: S R Cummings; T J Coates; R J Richard; B Hansen; E G Zahnd; R VanderMartin; C Duncan; B Gerbert; A Martin; M J Stein Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 1989-04-15 Impact factor: 25.391