Prevalence, Knowledge & Attitude Towards Smoking Among the Hospital Employees

Abstract

Health care professionals are expected to play an active role in educating public against hazards of tobacco smoking. Prevalence of smoking is on rise particularly in developing countries including Pakistan and at the same time knowledge about the hazards of smoking is lacking among the public. En our study we have assessed the prevalence, knowledge and attitude towards smoking among the hospital employees. We carried a questionnaire-based survey on the hospital employees on smoking. A total of 98 hospital employees working at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore were included ¡n the survey and a questionnaire was filled after interviewing. The age range was 25 to 58 years with a mean of 41 years. Only male employees ‘were included. Out of total 98 employees 58 (59%) were non-smoker and 40 (41%) were smokers. When asked about the smoking history of family members, quite surprisingly 72 (73.5%) had no smokers in the family. Eighteen (18.4%) had father as smoker and 8 (8.2%) had brother as smoker. When questioned as hazards related to smoking,94 (95.9%) strongly agreed that smoking is hazardous to health and 4 (4.1%) disagreed. Regarding source of information about hazards of smoking majority 92 (93.9%) got information from television, 4 (4.1%) from Radio and only 2 (2%) got information by doctors. In 40 smokers when interviewed in detail, regarding type of smoking majority,39 (97.5%) were smoking cigarettes and only 1 (2.5%) were Huqqa smoker. Five (12.5%%) were smoking less than 10 cigarettes, 26 (65%). 10-20 day,9 (22%) more than 20 cigarettes day. Thirty-seven (92.5%) were smoking filtered cigarettes and remaining 3 (7.5%) were smoking non-filtered cigarettes. When questioned about why they smoke, thirteen (32.5%) said that they relax after smoking, 4 (10%) have smoking peer, while 23 (57%) had multiple reasons. Regarding attempts at quitting smoking,30(75%) never tried to quit while 10 (25%) attempted quitting, but did not succeed. In non-smokers, the reasons for not smoking were different. One (1.7%) had non-smoking parents, 4 (6.9%) were self-determined not to smoke while 53 (9 1%) were not smoking because of expenses. This study shows that even in hospital employees the prevalence of smoking is high and knowledge relevant to tobacco and its hazards is limited. More health education is required by doctors regarding smoking.