Smoking prevalance and the degree of nicotine dependence among healthcare workers at the ataturk university medical facility

The impact of smoked cigarettes' type on the level of reactive oxygen species in physicians with surgical and non-surgical specialization

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking remains a pervasive global health concern, contributing to a myriad of debilitating conditions. One critical aspect of its detrimental impact is the induction of oxidative stress (OS). The aim of the study was to identify differences in the level of reactive oxygen species between surgical and non-surgical physicians who smoke different types of cigarettes and their level of nicotine addiction.

METHODS

The prospective study conducted on surgical and non-surgical physicians who smoke various types of cigarettes worked at the Provincial Multidisciplinary Oncology and Traumatology Centre in Lodz (Poland) and at the Polish Mother's Health Centre Institute in Lodz (Poland). The Fagerström's test for nicotine dependence was used to determine degree of nicotine addiction. The differences in reactive oxygen species level among physicians with surgical and non-surgical specialization who smoke different types of cigarettes was analysed by the Cellular Reactive Oxygen Species Assay Kit.

RESULTS

In this study 35.1% of surgical and 40.5% of non-surgical physicians indicated signs of nicotine addiction. The Fagerström score was significantly higher in surgical than non-surgical physician specialties (5.4 ± 1.372 vs. 4.7 ± 1.310; p = 0.001). Significantly higher ROS level was observed in conventional cigarette (CS) smokers, e-cigarette (EC) smokers and tobacco heating products (THP) smokers compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a significantly lower ROS level in THP smokers compared to CS smokers (p < 0.05) and EC smokers (p < 0.05). There was a significantly higher ROS level in physicians with surgical specialization who smoke CS (p < 0.001) and EC (p = 0.004) compared to non-surgical physicians.

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding the influence of the type of smoked cigarettes on oxidative stress in surgical and non-surgical physicians is imperative for targeted interventions and health promotion strategies. The broader goal is mitigating the health risks associated with cigarette smoking, especially within professional domains where stressors may already be heightened. Further investigations are essential for developing tailored approaches to address the nuanced relationships between cigarette types, occupational stress, and oxidative stress in specialized medical fields.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

not applicable.

Spotlight on nurses' smoking prevalence and addiction in Istanbul, Türkiye, the leading country in the implementation of WHO MPOWER policies

OBJECTIVE

Türkiye is the leading country that has been applying the MPOWER criteria of the World Health Organization for years. However, the prevalence of smoking among nurses appears to be high, according to the literature. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence, addiction levels, and dynamics of tobacco smoking among nurses in Türkiye.

METHOD

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a questionnaire (prepared in cooperation with the "World Health Organization") and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence were administered to 529 nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital in 2020. Logistic regression was performed to determine factors predicting smoking.

RESULTS

The prevalence of smoking among nurses was 32.7% (n = 173). The mean Fagerström test score indicated a "low dependence" level (score: 3 ± 2.6). Both results were higher for males. A relationship was found between trying smoking cigarette and hookah. Of the "current smokers" group, 102 (60.4%) stated that they wanted to quit smoking. Only 21 (27.6%) of the nurses who have tried to quit smoking thus far have received professional help.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of smoking among nurses working at a tertiary-care university hospital was relatively low compared to that among nurses in Türkiye. While females are normally expected to smoke less, the high prevalence of smoking among nurses (most of them female) raises the question of the professional basis of this situation. However, the low rate of receiving professional help reveals the lack of promotion and accessibility of smoking cessation outpatient clinics in the faculty environment. Finally, the perception that hookah is an alternative tobacco product leads to cigarette smoking. The good news was that nurses had a low dependency rate.

Determining The Relationship Between Smoking Habits and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors of Health Workers: Smoke-Free Hospital, Healthy Life

Aim: Using tobacco and tobacco products is an important public health issue. This study aims to determine the smoking status of hospital staff and to examine the relationship between their smoking habits and healthy lifestyle behaviors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out between March and September 2018 with 387 health workers in Izzet Baysal Training and Research Hospital affiliated to Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University. Data were collected using the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, which were applied via face-to-face interview technique to health workers who accepted to participate in the study. Results: The study sample consisted of 387 health workers. Of them, 58.7% of the participants were exposed to smoking in the workplace, and 75.9% of the nonsmokers were exposed to smoking environment, which was statistically significantly high. A statistically significant difference was found between the health workers’ Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale mean scores with respect to gender, smoking status, being in a smoking environment, and duration of smoking. Conclusion: Determining the relationship between smoking habits and healthy lifestyle behaviors of health workers, identifying their negative or incomplete behaviors in this regard, and developing training and support programs for their relevant needs are considered to positively affect the images of health workers in society, and thus to increase healthcare quality and satisfaction. Keywords: health personnel, smoking cessation, healthy lifestyle

Cigarette smoking at workplace among resident physicians and nurses in Mansoura University Hospital

Smoking at workplace (WP) is common among healthcare workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted upon resident physicians and nurses to determine the prevalence of WP smoking and its associated factors. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and occupational data, smoking history, nicotine dependence, and attitude toward smoking and its control in WP. More than one-fifths (22.7%) of residents and nurses were current WP smokers. Significant independent predictors are having shift work, high nicotine dependence, and having positive attitude toward smoking with AOR (95% CI): 29.4 (4.9-177.1), 18.2 (3.3-101.1), and 0.16 (0.02-0.84), respectively. The prevalence of smoking among resident physicians and nurses in Mansoura University Hospital is relatively high. Enforcement of WP smoking-free policies is required together with encouragement of positive attitude toward smoking cessation.

Prevalence of tobacco use in healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To estimate tobacco use prevalence in healthcare workers (HCW) by country income level, occupation and sex, and compare the estimates with the prevalence in the general population.

METHODS

We systematically searched five databases; Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL Plus, CAB Abstracts, and LILACS for original studies published between 2000 and March 2016 without language restriction. All primary studies that reported tobacco use in any category of HCW were included. Study extraction and quality assessment were conducted independently by three reviewers, using a standardised data extraction and quality appraisal form. We performed random effect meta-analyses to obtain prevalence estimates by World Bank (WB) country income level, sex, and occupation. Data on prevalence of tobacco use in the general population were obtained from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Health Observatory website. The review protocol registration number on PROSPERO is CRD42016041231.

RESULTS

229 studies met our inclusion criteria, representing 457,415 HCW and 63 countries: 29 high-income countries (HIC), 21 upper-middle-income countries (UMIC), and 13 lower-middle-and-low-income countries (LMLIC). The overall pooled prevalence of tobacco use in HCW was 21%, 31% in males and 17% in females. Highest estimates were in male doctors in UMIC and LMLIC, 35% and 45%, and female nurses in HIC and UMIC, 21% and 25%. Heterogeneity was high (I2 > 90%). Country level comparison suggest that in HIC male HCW tend to have lower prevalence compared with males in the general population while in females the estimates were similar. Male and female HCW in UMIC and LMLIC tend to have similar or higher prevalence rates relative to their counterparts in the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

HCW continue to use tobacco at high rates. Tackling HCW tobacco use requires urgent action as they are at the front line for tackling tobacco use in their patients.

Level of tobacco dependence among tobacco users in an urban slum of Puducherry: A pilot study

Context:

Successful tobacco quit by the tobacco users can avoid millions of premature death. However, the physical dependence on tobacco use results in frequent relapse most commonly due to withdrawal symptoms.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to study the level of tobacco dependence among tobacco users in an urban slum of Puducherry.

Materials and Methods:

This facility-based descriptive pilot study was conducted among patients aged 15 years or above attending an urban health and training center in an urban slum of Puducherry. A total of 90 consecutive current tobacco users were included after obtaining verbal informed consent and interviewed using a pretested questionnaire. The information on tobacco dependence was collected using Fagerstrom Addiction Scale for smokers and smokeless tobacco users separately.

Results:

Of the 90 current tobacco users, 95% were daily tobacco users. Of the current tobacco users, 48.8%, 45.6%, and 5.6% were smokers, smokeless tobacco users, and dual users, respectively. Majority of the smokers (61%) and most of the smokeless tobacco users (41%) had medium dependence for tobacco use. However, physical dependence was much higher among smokeless tobacco users (41.3%) than smokers (20.4%).

Conclusion:

Proportionately high physical dependence on tobacco is a concern in the study population. Community-based interventions are required to curb the problem; however, study with representative sample should be carried out before that.

Prevalence and correlates of nicotine dependence among construction site workers: A cross-sectional study in Delhi

INTRODUCTION

Workers represent half the world's population and are major contributors to economic and social development. Tobacco consumption in construction site workers has been considered a big challenge.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To assess the prevalence of nicotine dependence among tobacco users. (2) To study the correlates of nicotine dependence among the construction site workers.

METHODOLOGY

A cross sectional study was conducted using a predesigned and pretested structured proforma. The study was conducted among all construction site workers aged 18yrs and above in campus of Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and associated HAH centenary hospital, New Delhi. Karl Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire was used to assess dependence on nicotine.

RESULTS

The mean age of construction site workers was 32.04±11.6 years. Among the workers, majority (91%) were tobacco user. Among the users, 60% found it difficult to refrain from smoking/chewing in places where use of tobacco is not allowed (e.g. hospitals, government offices, cinemas, Libraries etc). 55% of the users smoked or chewed tobacco during the first hours after waking than during the rest of the day. On multivariate analysis, the factors which were found to be significantly associated with nicotine dependence were lower income group (OR 2.57, CI:1.66-3.99), smokeless tobacco use (OR 2.36, CI:1.30-4.27) and lower education (OR = 2.86 (95% CI 1.97-4.16) for illiterate).

DISCUSSION

The prevalence of tobacco use (91%) among construction workers is very high compared to that in the general population. Recognition of construction sites as work places and proper implementation of law is needed.

Smoking Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Among Health Care Professionals from Sulaymaniyah City/Iraq

BACKGROUND

Smoking is a serious risk to health globally. Health care professionals play a key role in the prevention of smoking as they are considered a role model by patients.

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study are to evaluate smoking rate among physicians and dentists from Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq, and to understand their knowledge and attitudes toward tobacco smoking.

METHODS

A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted involving physicians and dentists working in both University of Sulaimani and Sulaymaniyah Teaching Hospitals. A questionnaire created based on World Health Organization Global Health Professional Survey with slight modifications was emailed to the study participants and the responses received were analyzed.

RESULTS

Incidence of smoking among physicians and dentists was 26.5%, with a significantly higher rate among male compared to female health care professionals. The mean age of starting smoking was 22.3 (±4.8) years. Only 7.3% of health care professionals received formal training on smoking cessation. All responders agreed that smoking is harmful to health. However, ever smokers compared to never smokers were less likely to agree that health care professionals should set a positive impact by not smoking.

CONCLUSION

Smoking rate is high among physicians and dentists from Sulaymaniyah city/Iraq, and at the same time, there is a low rate of training on smoking cessation.