Questionnaire on the attitude of the physicians in educating the elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease about smoking cessation

Abstract

Smoking status, the extent of recognition of the relationship between smoking and COPD, and actual nature of education for smoking cessation by physicians have not yet been fully elucidated. To investigate perceptions about education for smoking cessation in the elderly by physicians who work in the clinic, questionnaires were sent to the 1,012 physicians who belong to the Yokohama City Medical Association. Of these, 311 respond and their data (31%) were included in the analysis. The questionnaire included questions on the importance of smoking cessation in the elderly, on the perception about the relationship between smoking and various diseases, and actual education for smoking cessation. The smoking status of the physicians themselves was also investigated. The distribution of current smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers among the physicians was 13%, 33%, and 54%, respectively. Seventy-five percent of ex-smokers answered that their experience of smoking cessation influenced their patient education for smoking cessation, and 39% of smokers answered that their smoking status did not influence it. Only 53% of the physicians replied that they actually performed education for smoking cessation to the elderly, and 8% of them replied that they hardly perform any or do not perform it. Smoking cessation is thought to be the only way to prevent the development of COPD. However, only a half of physicians recognized the importance of smoking cessation for the treatment and control of COPD in the elderly. In addition, less than one third of physicians perform nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Enlightenment for physicians should be needed to make them perform education for smoking cessation more aggressively.