title: Effectiveness of a brief physician counselling session on improving smoking behaviour in the workplace.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brief physician counselling has been shown to be effective in improving smokers' behaviour. If the counselling sessions can be given at the workplace, this would benefit a larger number of smokers. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a ten-minute physician counseling session at the workplace in improving smoking behaviour.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective randomised control trial was conducted on smokers in a factory. A total of 163 participants were recruited and randomised into control and intervention groups using a table of random numbers. The intervention group received a ten-minute brief physician counselling session to quit smoking. Stages of smoking behaviour were measured in both groups using a translated and validated questionnaire at baseline, one month and three months post intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in smoking behaviour at one-month post intervention (p=0.024, intention to treat analysis; OR=2.525; CI=1.109-5.747). This was not significant at three-month post intervention (p=0.946, intention to treat analysis; OR=1.026; 95% CI=0.486-2.168).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A session of brief physician counselling was effective in improving smokers' behaviour at workplace, but the effect was not sustained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University Teknologi Mara, Selayang, Malaysia E-mail : yungwen7@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yung Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Mohazmi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.forename: Su May
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Liew
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017132:Workplace