title: Smoking among Lao medical doctors: challenges and opportunities for tobacco control.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking is an increasing threat to health in low-income and middle-income countries and doctors are recognised as important role models in anti-smoking campaigns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to identify the smoking prevalence of medical doctors in Laos, their tobacco-related knowledge and attitudes, and their involvement in and capacity for tobacco prevention and control efforts.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional national survey by a researcher-administered, face-to-face questionnaire implemented at provincial health facilities throughout the central (including national capital), northern and southern regions of Laos in 2007. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 855 participants surveyed, 9.2% were current smokers and 18.4% were ex-smokers; smoking was least common in the central region (p<0.05) and far more prevalent in males (17.3% vs 0.4%; p<0.001). Smoking was concentrated among older doctors (p <0.001). Over 84% of current smokers wanted to quit, and 74.7% had made a recent serious attempt to do so. Doctors had excellent knowledge and positive attitudes to tobacco control, although smokers were relatively less knowledgeable and positive on some items. While 78% of doctors were engaged in cessation support, just 24% had been trained to do so, and a mere 8.8% considered themselves 'well prepared'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The willingness of doctors to take up their tobacco control role and the lower smoking rates among younger respondents offers an important window of opportunity to consolidate their knowledge, attitudes, skills and enthusiasm as cessation advocates and supports.
authors.affiliation: University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao PDR. vsychareun@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sychareun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanphanom
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: Alongkone
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phengsavanh
authors.forename: Visanou
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hansana
authors.forename: Sysavanh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phommachanh
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011361:Professional Competence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult