Health care workers smoke as well--who, how much and why?
In this observational study based on an original questionnaire, we investigated a group of health care workers--smokers employees of a teaching hospital in terms of basic features of tobacco smoking. A total of 137 smokers were asked to answer the questions on voluntary basis and anonymously. Response rate was 70%: a total of 96 participants with valid questionnaires consisted of 93% women, predominantly nurses (71%); mean age 40.5 (range 19-58 years). They started smoking at the age of 20 years on average; 83% started smoking before the age of 23. The mean smoking duration was 19.1 +/- 9.378 years and the average number of the cigarettes smoked per day was 17 +/- 7.90. They smoke 18 +/- 13.55 pack/year; 25% smoke 7.42 pack/year, 25% smoke > 27.5 pack/year. Some 59% had tried and failed to stop smoking while 61% intend to stop smoking (married significantly more intend to quit than singles). The most important reasons for smoking, in a rank order, were: a) habit (35.36%), b) nervousness (12.13%) and c) pleasure (11.11%); boredom and desire were rarely mentioned; only 7 (7.3%) stated addiction. There is an urgent need of continuous medical education on tobacco smoking as an addictive disease, its primary prevention and cure, including professional assistance in smoking cessation.
Pesut
Dragica
D
School of Medicine University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. dragica.pesut@gmail.com
Milovanovic
Branka
B
Bulajic
Milica
M
Bozic
Danica
D
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires