Are primary health care providers prepared to implement an anti-smoking program in Syria?

Abstract

ObjectiveTo document primary health care (PHC) providers’ tobacco use, and how this influences their smoking cessation practices and attitudes towards tobacco-control policies. MethodsAnonymous questionnaires were distributed to PHC providers in 7 randomly selected PHC centers in Aleppo, Syria. ResultsAll PHC providers completed the questionnaires (100% response rate). A quarter of these providers smoke cigarettes and more than 10% smoke waterpipes. Physicians who smoke were less likely to advise patients to quit (OR=0.29; 95% CI, 0.09–0.95), assess their motivation to quit (OR=0.13, 95% CI=0.02–0.72), or assist them in quitting (OR=0.24, 95% CI=0.06–0.99). PHC providers who smoke were less likely to support a ban on smoking in PHC settings (68.2% vs. 89.1%) and in enclosed public places (68.2% vs. 86.1%) or increases in the price of tobacco products (43.2% vs. 77.4%) (P<0.01 for all comparisons). ConclusionsSmoking, including waterpipe, continues to be widespread among PHC providers in Syria and will negatively influence implementation of anti-smoking program in PHC settings. Practice implicationsSmoking awareness and cessation interventions targeted to PHC providers, and training programs to build providers’ competency in addressing their patients’ smoking is crucial in Syria.