Smoking cessation counseling by pediatricians in an inner-city setting.
OBJECTIVE
To assess mothers' perceptions of pediatrician-provided smoking cessation counseling.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, descriptive study.


METHODS
Waiting rooms of five ambulatory pediatric clinics in the Bronx, NY.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 115 mothers.


METHODS
A structured questionnaire assessed the smoking history of the subject, presence or absence of environmental tobacco smoke(ETS)-related conditions in the subject's youngest child, and extent of smoking cessation counseling by the pediatrician. Subjects were asked whether they had been 1) asked about smoking; 2) advised about the risks of ETS exposure; 3) assisted in smoking cessation; and 4) arranged for a follow-up appointment to discuss smoking cessation.


RESULTS
Overall, 73% of mothers reported being asked about smoking by their child's pediatrician, and 50% reported being advised about the effects of ETS exposure. Of the 26 smokers in the sample, only two reported being assisted in smoking cessation. None reported being arranged for a follow-up appointment. Mothers of children with ETS-related conditions reported a higher rate of assessment for smoking status (ask: 85% vs. 63%, p =.01; advise: 57% vs. 43%, p =.19).


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers in our setting report a high level of inquiry into their tobacco use, especially when they have children with ETS-related conditions. While they also report receiving advice about the risks of ETS exposure, smokers are very infrequently assisted in smoking cessation.
Sharif
Iman
I
Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
Oruwariye
Tosan
T
Waldman
Genna
G
Ozuah
Philip O
PO
D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D010372:Pediatrics; D010465:Perception; D010819:Physician's Role; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014505:Urban Population