title: Health care workers in the Dominican Republic: self-perceived role in smoking cessation.
abstract: A Dominican Republic (DR)-based multi-community trial of smoking cessation viewed health care workers (HCWs) as potential interventionists. Effectively engaging them requires a clear understanding of their attitudes and practices regarding smoking. A Rapid Assessment Procedure, conducted among HCWs in six economically disadvantaged communities, included physicians, nurses, other health professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay workers. Attitudes and practices about smoking were consistent across the 82 HCWs and mostly reflected community views. HCWs lacked proactiveness related to smoking cessation and had a limited view of their role, attributing clients' quitting successes to personal will. Prior cessation training was limited, although interest was generally high. Material resources about smoking cessation were virtually absent. DR HCWs' views represented features both distinct from and common to HCWs elsewhere. Any intervention with HCWs must first raise awareness before addressing their role in smoking cessation, discussing implementation barriers, and include training and materials about risks and effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. ann_dozier@rmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dozier
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ossip
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Essie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sierra-Torres
authors.forename: Zahira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Quiñones de Monegro
authors.forename: Latoya
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Nancy P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McIntosh
mesh_terms: D004293:Dominican Republic; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D024382:Professional Role / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation