Table 4.
Training experience related to smoking and smoking-related beliefs among HCWs at TB treatment facilities with regular patient contact in the country of Georgia
| Physicians (n = 86, 29.9%) n (%) |
Nurses (n = 202, 70.4%) n (%) |
P value* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training received and knowledge related to smoking: | |||
| Taught about dangers of smoking | 47 (54.7) | 84 (41.6) | 0.04† |
| Discussed in training why people smoke | 49 (57.0) | 100 (49.5) | 0.25 |
| Taught to record smoking history in medical record | 62 (72.1) | 124 (61.4) | 0.08 |
| Taught formal smoking cessation approaches | 19 (22.1) | 54 (26.7) | 0.41 |
| Taught to provide smoking cessation materials | 42 (48.8) | 86 (42.6) | 0.33 |
| Aware of nicotine replacement therapy (patch or gum) | 61 (70.9) | 124 (61.4) | 0.12 |
| Aware of antidepressants in tobacco cessation programs | 33 (38.4) | 34 (16.8) | < 0.0001† |
| Know of resources to help patients quit | 32 (37.2) | 102 (50.5) | 0.04† |
| Ever heard of electronic cigarettes | 76 (88.4) | NA | |
| Patients ever asked about using electronic cigarettes to quit | 46 (53.4) | NA | |
| HCWs agree/strongly agree with smoking-related beliefs: | |||
| Smoking increases TB treatment duration | 49 (57.0) | 154 (76.2) | 0.001† |
| Smoking should be banned in TB hospitals | 72 (83.7) | 170 (84.2) | 0.93 |
| HCWs get training on smoking cessation | 70 (81.4) | 170 (84.2) | 0.56 |
| HCWs are role models for their patients | 76 (88.4) | 191 (94.6) | 0.06 |
| HCWs should routinely advise patients to cease smoking | 82 (95.4) | 194 (96.0) | 0.79 |
| HCWs can improve patient’s chance of smoking cessation | 55 (64.0) | 121 (59.9) | 0.52 |
| HCWs who smoke are less likely to advise patients to quit | 46 (53.5) | 83 (41.1) | 0.05 |
*
Two-sided general χ2.
†
Statistically significant.
HCW = health care worker; TB = tuberculosis; NA = not available.