Smoking among ethnic Chinese patients and their recall of quit advice by Chinese-speaking general practitioners in Sydney.
OBJECTIVE
To collect smoking-related data from Chinese patients attending Chinese-speaking general practitioners (CSGPs), including self-reported smoking status, recall of a question about smoking status during the previous six months by their GP and, for smokers, their recall of quit advice in their most recent consultation.


METHODS
Descriptive research first involving self-administered waiting-room questionnaires and, afterwards, a second self-administered questionnaire to examine behaviour in that most recent consultation.


METHODS
Surgeries of 24 CSGPs in Central Sydney.


METHODS
1084 Chinese patients aged 18-70 years.


RESULTS
Self-reported smoking prevalence was 25% (95% CI: 21%-29%) for men and 4% (95% CI: 2%-5%) for women. Of 103 smokers who had visited their regular GP during the previous 6 months, 42% recalled a question about smoking status and 38% quit advice. As elicited at follow-up, 72% recalled any discussion in their most recent consultation about smoking although effective techniques were rarely recalled. Patient's sex (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.28-2.47) and smoking status (OR: 1.39; 2.38; 95% CI: 0.85-2.25, 1.49-3.81) independently predicted a question about smoking status. Among smokers, marital status was the only independent predictor of quit advice. As assessed by a stage-of-change scale, significantly more Chinese smokers were not ready to contemplate cessation, compared with Angio-Celtic community survey results.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides unique information about smoking among ethnic Chinese patients attending CSGPs. Findings also suggest CSGPs need greater support to maximize their clinical opportunities to advise Chinese smokers to quit.
Lin
M
M
Needs Assessment and Health Outcomes Unit, Central Sydney Area Health Service, New South Wales.
Ward
J E
JE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires