Knowledge and management of smoking-cessation strategies among cardiologists in France: a nationwide survey.
BACKGROUND
While cardiologists are very active in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, their attitudes towards patients' smoking habits are poorly studied.


OBJECTIVE
In a nationwide French survey, we assessed cardiologists' levels of knowledge and management of smoking cessation.


METHODS
We sent out a questionnaire to a random sample of 1000 cardiologists.


RESULTS
A total of 371cardiologists agreed to participate in the survey; 8.1% were current smokers and 32.4% were past smokers. Most classified smoking cessation as the top priority for patients with coronary artery disease (56.5%) and peripheral arterial disease (88.5%). Cardiologists routinely assessed active and passive smoking in 96.2% and 43% of their patients, respectively. Only 29.2% considered themselves well informed about smoking-cessation management. While 39.9% declared they knew about the minimal counselling 7.3% described it correctly. Only 17.5% used the Fagerström questionnaire. Smoking cessation was advised systematically by 85% but only 5.4% of cardiologists followed up their patients specifically on this issue. They referred smokers to either their general practitioner or to smoking-cessation centres and/or quitlines in 16.0% and 67.0% of cases, respectively; 31.8% never referred their patients to a smoking-cessation centre, and 25% declared being unaware of any such centre in their area. Cardiologists who smoked were less likely to ask about patients' smoking status than non-smokers (90% vs 98.2%, p=0.039). Similarly, they were more passive in offering smoking-cessation counselling (23% vs 7%, p=0.011), and referred less frequently their patients to a smoking-cessation centre (37% vs 64%, p=0.028).


CONCLUSIONS
French cardiologists are rarely involved in the management of smoking cessation. Their own smoking status influences their attitudes towards the management of smoking cessation.
Aboyans
Victor
V
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine, Dupuytren University Hospital, 2, avenue Martin-Luther-King, 87042 Limoges, France. victor.aboyans@unilim.fr
Pinet
Pauline
P
Lacroix
Philippe
P
Laskar
Marc
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002309:Cardiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce