[General practitioners knowledge about smoking cessation approaches]

ABSTRACT

Worldwide more than one sixth of total populations are smoker and it is estimated that cigarette smoking will be the most preventable lead cause of death in 2020. Anti smoking advice from general practitioners [GPs] is the most effective way for smoking cessation and recent evidence-based guidelines urge GPs to advice all patients against smoking at every opportunity. This study aimed to identify general practitioner's knowledge about smoking cessation approaches. This survey was carried out through a WHO standardized questionnaire. Based on to sample size calculation, 5140 general practitioners chose by quota sampling method from 25600 practicing general physicians in the country. 74% of subjects were male. About 16% were smoking and 4.6% had past history of it. Less than 30% of subjects have knowledge about smoking cessation approaches, but only 9% of subjects have been received any formal training about these approaches during medical school or post graduate programs. Lack of training about smoking cessation approaches was the most considerable pitfall that mentioned by about 80% of subjects. Improvement of knowledge and attitude of physicians about smoking cessation approaches may have an important role in smoking reduction in the community and public health improvement. So it is a priority to do major effort for providing appropriate training formal course during medical school and postgraduate programs