Physician assessment of patient smoking in Indonesia: a public health priority.
OBJECTIVE
To explore Indonesian physician's smoking behaviours, their attitudes and clinical practices towards smoking cessation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Physicians working in Jogjakarta Province, Indonesia, between October and December 2003.


METHODS
447 of 690 (65%) physicians with clinical responsibilities responded to the survey (236 men, 211 women), of which 15% were medical faculty, 35% residents and 50% community physicians.


RESULTS
22% of male (n = 50) and 1% of female (n = 2) physicians were current smokers. Approximately 72% of physicians did not routinely ask about their patient's smoking status. A majority of physicians (80%) believed that smoking up to 10 cigarettes a day was not harmful for health. The predictors for asking patients about smoking were being male, a non-smoker and a medical resident. The odds of advising patients to quit were significantly greater among physicians who perceived themselves as sufficiently trained in smoking cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of training in smoking cessation seems to be a major obstacle to physicians actively engaging in smoking cessation activities. Indonesian physicians need to be educated on the importance of routinely asking their patients about their tobacco use and offering practical advice on how to quit smoking.
Ng
Nawi
N
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, IKM Building 3rd Floor, Farmako Street, North Sekip, Jogjakarta 55281, Indonesia. ngnawi@yahoo.com
Prabandari
Yayi Suryo
YS
Padmawati
Retna Siwi
RS
Okah
Felix
F
Haddock
C Keith
CK
Nichter
Mark
M
Nichter
Mimi
M
Muramoto
Myra
M
Poston
Walker S C
WS
Pyle
Sara A
SA
Mahardinata
Nurazid
N
Lando
Harry A
HA
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data