Investigation of Hong Kong doctors' current knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, confidence and practices: implications for the treatment of tobacco dependency.
BACKGROUND
Physicians play a crucial role in promoting smoking cessation. However, there are lack of data on Chinese doctors' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, confidence and usual practices in relation to smoking cessation. Understanding of these indicators is important in the design of any effective intervention program targeting doctors.


METHODS
To assess Chinese doctors' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, confidence and usual practices in relation to smoking cessation, a mailed questionnaire survey was conducted among 4,000 doctors registered with the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) in 2002.


RESULTS
Of the 757 respondents (18.9% response rate), 78% were male, 94% were non-smokers and 50% had received no basic training on smoking cessation. More than half of the doctors did not hold adequate knowledge (53%) or favorable attitudes (55%) towards smoking cessation; 44% were less confident in their smoking cessation skills. About 77% of the doctors obtained information on their patients' smoking status and recorded it in their medical record, and 29% advised all smoking patients to quit. Doctors who gave smoking cessation advice were more likely to be aged above 50 years, with more than 30 years' practice experience, working in the private sector, non- or ex-smokers, with more positive beliefs towards smoking cessation, and with higher confidence in smoking cessation skills (p < 0.001). Different factors associated with establishing and recording smoking status, arranging follow-up sessions, acquiring more knowledge and developing a more favorable attitude and greater confidence on smoking cessation-related matters were also identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey has shown that existing smoking cessation service provision in Hong Kong for patients who smoke is inadequate, and has identified a lack of smoking cessation skills among doctors. Action should be taken to train doctors in smoking cessation skills and encourage them to routinely establish the smoking status of their patients and to advise all smokers to quit smoking.
Abdullah
Abu Saleh M
AS
Department of International Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA. asma@bu.edu
Rahman
A S M Mujibur
AS
Suen
Chau Wai
CW
Wing
Lau Sun
LS
Ling
Lau Wai
LW
Mei
Li Yuen
LY
Tat
Lun Chung
LC
Tai
Mak Nin
MN
Wing
Tsai Nga
TN
Yuen
Wu Tsz
WT
Kwan
Yam H
YH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016540:Smoking Cessation