Abstract

KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PRIMARY HEALTHCARE PHYSICIANS TOWARD SMOKING CESSATION IN JAZAN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Abdulaziz Tawhari*, Abdullah Sabai, Fawaz Tawhari, Khaled Jammal, Ali Masmali, Mohammed Alfaifi, Mohammed Darraj, Fatimah Zoghby, Ameerah Arishi, Reem Damrai, Nawal Althurwi, Laila Zoghby, Maged Alrefaei, Hussain Koriri and Majed Sulayyi

Abstract

Aim of The Study: To assess knowledge, attitude and practice of primary healthcare physicians toward smoking cessation in Jazan Region, Southwestern Region of Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 310 physicians Jazan primary healthcare centers. The study questionnaire were divided into four parts as follows: demographic, smoking status history and habits, smoking-related knowledge and attitude and smoking cessation counseling practice. Results: Prevalence of current smoking among the study group was 17.42%. Out of all participants there were 71.9% achieved a knowledge score ≥ the mean of all participants. Also more than half (54.2%) had positive attitude and 44.5% of participants had good practice regarding smoking cessation counselling. In the practice items; counseling was the most frequently reported action (66.8%) in smoking cessation, whereas medication, self- help materials, and traditional remedies were reported by 15.8%, 12.6%, and 4.8% respectively. The most commonly reported obstacles, to smoking cessation counseling are too much time required for guidance (41%), followed by patients refusing guidance (22.3%), and lack of interest of physicians (8.1%). Good practice were reported among experienced physician even more than those with less year of experience (p=0.04). Conclusions: The prevalence of current smoking among the study group is relatively high, the majority of physicians were knowledgeable about smoking-related questions and had positive attitude for smoking cessation. The practice of primary care physicians were not ideal. Counseling regarding smoking cessation was the most frequently reported action in smoking cessation. Physicians with longer experience working in PHC centers were significantly more likely to reveal good practice regarding smoking cessation compared with those with experience of one year or less. Word counts: 270 words.

Keywords: Smoking, Cessation, Counselling, KAP, Physician.