PREPAREDNESS OF GENERAL HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS IN ‘TOBACCO CESSATION COUNSELING/TREATMENT’ IN TWIN CITIES -A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To determine the knowledge, practices, and preparedness of GHPs for providing tobacco cessation services in public and private hospitals, and to find the factors which impede the provision of tobacco cessation services.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: GHPs in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, from Mar to Aug 2018.

Methodology: Semi-structured questionnaire was administered to GHPs worked in public and private hospitals through non probability convenience sampling. Responses were collected on ordinal scale against three main items were knowledge, skills and practice regarding tobacco cessation counseling. Collected data was analyzed through SPSS. Responses were computed in frequency and percentages.

Results: The proportions of general healthcare practitioners who got enough training on Tobacco cessation activities during their formal education were (26%). Almost half of the general healthcare practitioners (51.2%) feel confident about their tobacco cessation skills. The proportions of general healthcare practitioners who practice tobacco/smoking cessation activities were (53.2%) who score 21 above and was labeled as they were
practicing the tobacco cessation activities on patients who visit them.

Conclusion: GHPs have moderate levels of knowledge, and training for tobacco cessation services. However their practices regarding provision of tobacco cessation services is poor. Lack of perceived expertise is the key factor which hinders general healthcare practitioners in providing the tobacco cessation counseling. It is important to invest in training and preparing health care providers for providing effective tobacco cessation services in Pakistan