Abstract
ObjectivesMental health professionals (MHPs) play an important role in treating patients with nicotine addiction. However, data on MHPs’ cigarette smoking habits are scarce. This survey aimed to collect such data and to examine the correlates of smoking among MHPs working in China.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in all 41 provincial, tertiary psychiatric hospitals, and MHPs from these hospitals were targeted. An anonymous questionnaire was designed to collect socio-demographic and occupational factors, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey was used to assess burnout. Data about smoking and other health behaviors were also collected.ResultsIn total, 13,614 MHPs were included in the analysis. The overall rate of current smoking was 8.6% (31.3% in males, and 1.1% in females). A substantial proportion (28.0%) of life-time smokers had abstained for more than 3 months. Those who were male (OR=37.73), older (OR=1.02), divorced or widowed (OR=1.72), working in West (OR=1.45), and Northeast China (OR=1.65), were nurses (OR=1.44), had a high income (OR=1.31), experienced burnout (OR=1.29), frequent insomnia (OR=1.39), and used alcohol (OR=2.76) were significantly more likely to be smokers, while those who had a higher level of education (OR=0.67, 0.47, and 0.43 for college, master, and doctorate degrees, respectively), and exercised regularly (OR=0.73) were significantly less likely to be smokers.ConclusionAlthough lower than that of the general population in China, smoking is still relatively high among MPHs. Efforts to lower smoking rates among MHPs in China should continue and should incorporate strategies that target burnout, sleep, alcohol use, exercise and other factors associated with smoking.
Highlights
Tobacco use is one of the most serious public health problems in the world
A total of 21,858 mental health professionals (MHPs), including 6,986 doctors (73.3% were psychiatrists), 13,867 nurses (78.8% were registered psychiatric nurses), and 1,005 psychologists were invited to participate in this survey. 14,666 responded and 13,614 (62.3%) (4,345 doctors, 9,112 nurses and 257 psychologists) completed the questionnaire with no logical errors and were included in the statistical analysis
The results showed that an older age, male sex, being divorced or widowed, working in West and Northeast China, being nurses, having a high income, burnout, frequent insomnia, and alcohol use were all significantly associated with a higher risk of smoking, while higher levels of education and exercising regularly were associated with a lower risk of smoking
Summary
Tobacco use is one of the most serious public health problems in the world. Six million deaths per year are associated with tobacco use worldwide, and more than 1 million of those occur in China [1, 2]. The role of healthcare professionals in antismoking campaigns and patients’ smoking cessation efforts is uniquely important. Multiple studies [7,8,9,10] have found high rates of smoking rates among patients with mental illness with the highest rates seen among those with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia (over 60%). Given this high prevalence and the influence health care professionals have on their patients’ smoking cessation efforts, it is important to characterize the smoking behavior of mental health professionals (MHPs), which include psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and psychologists
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