Objectives: To estimate the frequency, characteristics and follow-up of anti-smoking counseling given to patients using a primary care facility; to survey patient opinion of anti-smoking advice offered.
Material and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study at a primary care facility.
Subjects: random sample of 330 patients between 15 and 75 years of age using the primary care facility in March and April 2000.
Measurements: confidential survey by self-administered questionnaire on smoking, chronic disease related to smoking, anti-smoking advice given and patient opinion of anti-smoking counseling by health care givers.
Results: The prevalence of smoking was 31.9% (100). Among patients who were either smokers or ex-smokers (162), advice to stop smoking had been received from the primary care physician by 47 patients (29.2%), from a specialist by 19 (11.8%), from a nurse by 14 (8.7%), from a pharmacist by 5 (3.1%), and from family by 34 (21.1%). We found no statistically significant differences related to gender or age for advice to stop smoking, although the presence or absence of chronic disease did affect counseling. Fifty-four (65%) of those who had been advised to quit considered that the time spent counseling was adequate. Ten patients (12%) received an informative brochure in addition to counseling. Forty smokers (40%) stated that they would quit smoking if their doctor advised them to and 45 (45%) would do so if they had a smoking-related disease. Thirty-three smokers (33%) believed that they should receive advice about smoking at all visits to the doctor, whereas 38 (38%) believed such counseling was appropriate only if the visit was for a smoking-related disease.
Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking among patients who use primary care facilities is high. The frequency of advice to quit smoking is low, and reminders and follow-up are minimal. After learning a patient's habits and studying them, professional anti-smoking advice should always be given, with appropriate monitoring and follow-up.