Jordanian nurses' and physicians' learning needs for promoting smoking cessation

Abstract

Smoking causes many health problems, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, and has devastating effects on the cardiovascular system. This study was performed to assess: (1) the prevalence of smoking among Jordanian nurses and physicians, (2) the differences in prevalence of smoking by sex, and 3) nurses' and physicians' learning needs for promoting smoking cessation. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Five Jordanian hospitals were randomly selected; 164 nurses (65.3%) and 87 physicians (34.7%) participated in the study. Prevalence of smoking among nurses and physicians was 41.5% (n=66) and 43.6% (n=38), respectively, and significantly more men than women smoked (odds ratio, 5.45; confidence interval, 2.52-11.74 [P=.00]). Many Jordanian nurses and physicians do not recognize the addictive aspect of smoking, and health professionals receive no formal training in smoking cessation approaches to use with patients. Most nurses and physicians recognize that University curricula must include information about smoking cessation. © 2008 Le Jacq.