Knowledge and practices of tobacco dependence treatment among junior doctors in a Malaysian teaching hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Junior doctors are ideally placed to assist smokers quit yet little is known about their knowledge and practices. Aims: To determine knowledge and practices in providing smoking cessation support, among junior doctors in a Malaysian teaching hospital. Methods: In 2012, all junior doctors at University Malaya Medical Centre were invited to complete a self-Administered questionnaire. The data were collated and analysed using standard descriptive methods. Results/Findings: Seventy per cent (n = 122/173) of those eligible completed the questionnaire, 71% reporting cessation training at medical school. Most (90%) asked patients their smoking status but only 52% asked about quitting. Sixty-one per cent lacked confidence in providing assistance to quit, especially female doctors (70.8%, p<0.01). Most (80%) were unaware of local cessation clinics, and over half (59%) were unaware of the existence of guidelines for smoking cessation (p<0.001). Conclusions: Asking about smoking was undertaken at satisfactory levels, but low knowledge, confidence and skills among this group of junior doctors indicates that cessation education should be included in undergraduate and in postgraduate curriculum training programmes. Awareness of specialist services and guidelines should be raised. Our findings are unlikely to be unique to this hospital, suggesting the need for a nationally consistent approach.