Table 3.
Self-reported attitudes, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control and intention changes of the healthcare professionals that participated in the ENSP eLearning for treating tobacco dependence
| Variables | Pre Median (IQR) | Pre IQR*** 25–75 | Post Median (IQR) | Post IQR*** 25–75 | z-score* | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attitudesa | ||||||
| Counseling by a clinician helps motivate smokers to quit. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -7.370 | <0.001 |
| For many tobacco users smoking is an addiction. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -2.820 | 0.005 |
| First line pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation work well in helping patients quit. | 3.0 (1.0) | 3.0 – 4.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -13.243 | <0.001 |
| First line pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation have side effects that outweigh their benefits. | 2.0 (2.0) | 1.0 – 3.0 | 1.0 (2.0) | 1.0 – 3.0 | -4.265** | <0.001 |
| Tobacco use is killing too many people. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -1.390 | 0.164 |
| It is my usual practice to assist my patients to quit smoking. | 4.0 (2.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 4.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -5.346 | <0.001 |
| Normative beliefsa | ||||||
| Smoking cessation is an important part of my role as a healthcare professional. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -5.316 | <0.001 |
| Smoking is a personal decision which does not concern the healthcare professional. | 1.0 (2.0) | 1.0 – 3.0 | 1.0 (2.0) | 1.0 – 3.0 | -0.360 | 0.719 |
| Healthcare professionals should advise patients to quit smoking even if it is not the reason for the visit. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -2.562 | 0.010 |
| Healthcare professionals should make appointments specifically to help patients quit. | 5.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -5.096 | <0.001 |
| A patient’s will power alone is what will determine their success with quitting. | 4.0 (1.0) | 2.0 – 4.0 | 3.0 (2.0) | 2.0 – 4.0 | -2.968** | 0.003 |
| Perceived behavioral control (self-efficacy)a | ||||||
| I have the required skills to help my patients quit smoking. | 3.0 (2.0) | 2.0 – 4.0 | 4.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -13.083 | <0.001 |
| I do not feel I have effective methods to assist my patients with quitting. | 3.0 (2.0) | 2.0 – 4.0 | 2.0 (2.0) | 1.0 – 3.0 | -7.949** | <0.001 |
| My patients follow my advice about behavior change. | 3.0 (1.0) | 3.0 – 4.0 | 4.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | -11.256 | <0.001 |
| My patients who smoke want to quit smoking. | 3.0 (1.0) | 3.0 – 4.0 | 4.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | -6.931 | <0.001 |
| I know where to refer patients for help with smoking cessation. | 4.0 (3.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -10.388 | <0.001 |
| Intentionsa | ||||||
| Address tobacco use with all my patients as priority. | 4.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -4.414 | <0.001 |
| Document tobacco use status in the patient’s medical record. | 5.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -6.703 | <0.001 |
| Offer my support to all my patients making a quit attempt. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -7.022 | <0.001 |
| Provide brief smoking cessation counseling (3–5 minutes). | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -5.586 | <0.001 |
| Give my patients written materials about quitting smoking. | 5.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -4.719 | <0.001 |
| Discuss available quit-smoking medications with my patients who smoke. | 4.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -9.726 | <0.001 |
| Prescribe a quit smoking medication for patients ready to quit. | 4.0 (3.0) | 2.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -8.345 | <0.001 |
| Schedule dedicated appointment to develop quit plans with my patients. | 4.0 (2.0) | 3.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | -7.327 | <0.001 |
| Be persistent in addressing tobacco use with my patients even if I am not effective the first time. | 5.0 (1.0) | 4.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 (0.0) | 5.0 – 5.0 | -5.911 | <0.001 |
| Importance of helping patients quit smokingb | 10.0 (1.0) | 9.0 – 10.0 | 10.0 (0.0) | 10.0 - 10.0 | -4.731 | <0.001 |
a
On a scale from 1 to 5 (strongly disagree to strongly agree).
b
On a scale from 1 to 10.
*
Based on negative ranks.
**
Based on positive ranks.
***
IQR: interquartile range.
Post period: missing data n=2.