title: Are primary care physicians prepared to assist patients for smoking cessation? Results of a national Italian cross-sectional web survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The primary purpose of this study is to explore primary care physicians' (PCPs') knowledge, attitudes and self-reported activities provided to patients for smoking cessation. The secondary purpose is to identify the relationships between physician-related characteristics and knowledge, attitudes and self-reported activities for smoking cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national cross-sectional web survey was conducted in Italy from April through September 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  722 PCPs completed the questionnaire. The great majority indicated the correct proportion of smokers among patients with lung cancer, the smoking abstention required for risk reduction after smoking cessation, and tobacco as a known major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas 28.7% knew the Fagerstrom test for the assessment of nicotine dependence. Almost all PCPs reported that they ask all patients if they smoke, inform about the dangers of smoking and recommend to quit smoking, whereas prescription of recommended drugs for smoking cessation varied from 37.7% for nicotine replacement therapy to 4.9% for varenicline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a positive attitude, Italian PCPs are not prepared to deliver effective interventions for smoking cessation in their patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo G A
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Biafore
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Manuti
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pileggi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Græcia", Catanzaro, Italy. Electronic address: pavia@unicz.it.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavia
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder
keywords: Dependence; Primary care physicians; Smoking cessation interventions; Tobacco use