Vojnosanitetski pregled 2014 Volume 71, Issue 5, Pages: 481-490
https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP1405481K
Full text ( 291 KB)
Determinants of smoking and smoking cessation among health professionals in Serbia: A cross-sectional study
Krstev Srmena (Public Health Association of Serbia, Belgrade + Institute of Occupational Health “Dr. Dragomir Karajović”, Belgrade)
Marinković Jelena (Public Health Association of Serbia, Belgrade + Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, Belgrade)
Simić Snežana (Public Health Association of Serbia, Belgrade + Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, Belgrade)
Jovićević Ana (Public Health Association of Serbia, Belgrade + National Institute of Oncology and Radiology, Belgrade)
Marković-Denić Ljiljana (Public Health Association of Serbia, Belgrade + Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade)
Background/Aim. Bearing in mind a high smoking prevalence in Serbia (34% in
adult population; men 38%, women 30%) and leading role of health
professionals in intervention and prevention, a cross-sectional study was
performed smong the representative sample of health professionals in Serbia.
The aim of the study was to identify predictors of smoking and smoking
cessation prior to the total smoking ban in November 2010. Methods. In this
nationwide study, 3,084 physicians and nurses from 4 types of institutions
and four geographical regions were selected and 2,282 included (response rate
74.0%). Data were collected using a self-administered structured
questionnaire. Standard statistical methods were used to calculate prevalence
rates, and multivariate logistic regressions to evaluate independent
predictors of smoking pattern. Risks were expressed as odds ratios (OR) which
represent approximation of relative risks of exposed persons with 95%
confidence intervals (95% CI). Results. We found a high smoking prevalence of
38.0%, the same for women and men (37.8% and 37.6%, respectively; p = 0.138),
higher among nurses (41.7%) than physicians (29.1%) (p = 0.000), as well as
among those employed in general hospitals (42.6%) and institutes of public
health (43.8%) (p = 0.000). Significantly increased risk of being an ever or
current smoker was noticed for nurses (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.42-2.14; and OR =
1.91, 95% CI 1.52-2.40, respectively), those employed in general hospitals
(OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.09-1.73 and OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.09-1.79, respectively),
and with worse self-estimated health (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.02-1.30; and OR =
1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.34, respectively). Intentions to quit smoking or to
reduce the number of cigarettes were more frequent in women (OR = 1.51, 95%
CI 1.01-2.27) and participants who worse evaluated their health (OR = 1.74,
95% CI 1.39- 2.18). Conclusion. High smoking prevalence in health
professionals could be a barrier for the full implementation of smoking ban
in health institutions in Serbia. Smoking cessation programs at workplaces,
formal education in smoking cessation techniques, and better Law enforcement
by health administrations should be implemented.
Keywords: smoking, smoking cessation, prevalence, physicians, nurses, health, legislation