An online survey of doctor's willingness to quit tobacco in India.
cross_sectional · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40726696.
- Also identified by DOI 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1096_24 and PMC identifier 12296327.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-SA.
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Abstract
Doctors are considered role model for society. People look up to them to follow good habits. Yet many doctors use tobacco. This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and willingness among doctors to quit tobacco use. A semi-structured questionnaire in the Google Form was circulated by the investigators to their contacts. The questionnaire had sections on socio-demographic profile, use of tobacco, attitude toward quitting tobacco, and awareness about friends or spouses taking tobacco, and second-hand tobacco harms. A total of 691 doctors responded to the survey by filling in the Google Forms. A total of 42.1% (291) of the respondents were females and 255 (37%) of the respondents had used tobacco in any form. A total of 40 (5.8%) respondents said that their spouse is using tobacco in any form; 19 (2.7%) were not sure about the tobacco consumption status of their spouse. 66%, 7%, and 5% of the respondents were smoking, using both smoking and smokeless and smokeless form of tobacco. Around 188 (73.7%), 65 (25.5%), and 2 (0.8%) of the respondents who have ever used any form of tobacco in their lifetime could insert a maximum of 4, 3, and 1 finger in their mouth. A total of 72% of the currently using tobacco are willing to quit. Around three-fourths of respondents who were using tobacco tried quitting it through their own willpower. Only 35% of respondents were willing to seek help from a tobacco cessation specialist, while most felt they could quit on their own. Over 75% were aware of protocol-based therapy, and more than 80% knew about medications for withdrawal symptoms. The use of tobacco is high among doctors, and it is involving both sexes. The knowledge of harm to self and others is limited, even more limited is the knowledge about the availability of medical help to quit tobacco. Though many of them want to quit, they are unwilling to take professional help. More awareness about the use of professional services is to be spread to doctors to help them quit tobacco.