African American primary care physicians' perceptions and practices regarding smoking cessation therapy.
African American smokers (34% of males and 23% of females) need formal interventions to assist them in quitting smoking, a major method of preventing premature mortality from smoking-related illnesses. The purpose of this study was to examine African American primary care physicians' perceptions and practices regarding smoking cessation counseling. A national random sample (n=202) of primary care physicians was asked about their perceptions and practices regarding smoking cessation therapy. Most (89%) placed themselves in the maintenance stage for asking their patients about their smoking status and regularly documented the smoking status of their patients (70%). Most physicians did not comply with all of the components of the U.S. Public Health Services' smoking cessation guidelines (e.g., 5 A's and 5 R's). The component most often implemented of the 5 A's was to "advise" patients to quit (89%), and "arrange" followup was the least frequently (60%) used component. Perceived barriers to engaging in smoking cessation interventions were time (38%) and patients not interested in quitting (19%). Although physicians used many of the steps in the 5 A's and 5 R's, they were far less compliant in recommending nicotine replacement therapy, prescribing pharmacotherapy, and providing support and/or follow-up for patients who were willing to quit smoking. Physicians need more academic preparation in providing smoking cessation counseling since few received such training in medical school (31%) or during their residency programs (18%).
Balls
Joyce E
JE
University of Florida, Center for Health Equity and Quality Research, 580 W Eighth St, Tower II Ste 9005, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA. jballs@ufl.edu
Price
James H
JH
Dake
Joseph A
JA
Jordan
Timothy R
TR
Khuder
Sadik
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American