Table 1.
Doctors' tobacco-related correct knowledge and positive attitudes and perceptions, by smoking status (n=855)
| Statements by category | Current smokers (n=79), % correct/positive | Ex-smokers (n=157), % correct/positive | Never-smokers (n=619), % correct/positive | χ2 or Fisher's exact test | p Value |
| Knowledge on health hazards of active smoking | |||||
| Smoking is harmful to your health | 98.7 | 100 | 100 | 0.09* | |
| Nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive | 96.2 | 90.4 | 95.2 | 5.78 | 0.056 |
| People can get addicted to cigarette just as they can get addicted to cocaine or heroin | 68.4 | 81.5 | 83.8 | 11.411 | 0.003 |
| Tobacco kills more people each year than illegal drugs, AIDS and road accidents | 50.6 | 56.1 | 54.4 | 0.625 | 0.732 |
| Knowledge on health hazards of secondhand smoking | |||||
| Neonatal death is associated with passive smoking | 69.6 | 72.6 | 70.8 | 0.288 | 0.866 |
| Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death | 79.7 | 82.8 | 79.6 | 0.801 | 0.670 |
| Passive smoking increases the risk of heart diseases in non-smoking adults | 96.2 | 94.3 | 92.9 | 1.464 | 0.481 |
| Passive smoking increases the risk of lung diseases in non-smoking adults | 97.5 | 99.4 | 99.4 | 3.145 | 0.207 |
| Paternal smoking increases lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia in exposed children | 94.9 | 96.8 | 96.9 | 0.884 | 0.643 |
| Smoke from cigarettes is harmful to people who are repeatedly exposed, not just smokers | 98.7 | 97.5 | 98.5 | 0.490* | |
| Attitudes towards tobacco control policy | |||||
| Tobacco sales to children and adolescents should be banned | 96.2 | 99.4 | 98.5 | 3.572 | 0.186 |
| There should be a complete ban on advertising of tobacco products | 91.1 | 98.1 | 99.2 | <0.001* | |
| Health warning on cigarette package should be in large print | 93.7 | 98.1 | 98.7 | 0.012* | |
| Sport sponsorship by tobacco industry should be banned | 59.5 | 61.1 | 66.4 | 2.586 | 0.274 |
| Smoking in all enclosed public places should be banned | 97.5 | 99.4 | 97.3 | 0.283* | |
| Smoking should be banned at hospitals/healthcare centres and medical facilities | 97.5 | 99.4 | 99.0 | 0.311* | |
| The price of tobacco should be increased sharply | 58.2 | 77.7 | 73.5 | 10.551 | 0.005 |
| Attitudes and perceptions of role of health professionals (HP) in tobacco control | |||||
| HPs should routinely ask about their patients' smoking habits | 96.2 | 98.1 | 98.5 | 0.236* | |
| HPs should routinely advise their smoking patients to quit smoking | 98.7 | 98.7 | 98.7 | 1.000* | |
| HPs who smoke are less likely to advise people to stop smoking | 69.6 | 79.0 | 74.6 | 2.588 | 0.274 |
| HPs should routinely advise patients/people who smoke to avoid smoking around children | 100 | 100 | 99.4 | 0.721* | |
| HPs should get specific training on cessation techniques | 96.2 | 100 | 99.2 | 0.028* | |
| HPs should speak to community groups about smoking | 98.7 | 98.7 | 99.0 | 0.620* | |
| HPs should serve as role models for their patients and the public | 100 | 99.4 | 99.2 | 1.000* | |
| Patients' chances of quitting smoking are increased if HP advises them to quit | 94.9 | 98.7 | 98.2 | 0.142* | |
Current smokers include daily and occasional smokers; Never-smokers are those who have never smoked.
*
For values less than 5, Fisher's exact test was used.