Health Care Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Tobacco Use in Economically Disadvantaged Dominican Republic Communities

Michael G. Prucha, Susan G. Fisher, Scott McIntosh, John C. Grable, Heather Holderness, Kelly Thevenet-Morrison, Zahíra Quiñones De Monegro, José Javier Sánchez, Arisleyda Bautista, Sergio Díaz and Deborah J. Ossip
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Michael G. Prucha: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
Susan G. Fisher: Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
Scott McIntosh: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
John C. Grable: Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
Heather Holderness: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
Kelly Thevenet-Morrison: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
Zahíra Quiñones De Monegro: Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic
José Javier Sánchez: Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Arisleyda Bautista: Centro de Atención Primaria Juan XXIII, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Sergio Díaz: Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Deborah J. Ossip: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Tobacco use is increasing globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries like the Dominican Republic (DR) where data have been lacking. Health care worker (HCW) interventions improve quit rates; asking patients about tobacco use at each visit is an evidence-based first step. This study provides the first quantitative examination of knowledge, attitudes and practices of DR HCWs regarding tobacco use. All HCWs ( N = 153) in 7 economically disadvantaged DR communities were targeted with anonymous surveys. Approximately 70% ( N = 107) completed the primary outcome item, asking about tobacco use at each encounter. Despite >85% strongly agreeing that they should ask about tobacco use at each encounter, only 48.6% reported doing so. While most (94.39%) strongly agreed that smoking is harmful, knowledge of specific health consequences varied from 98.13% for lung cancer to 41.12% for otitis media. Few received training in tobacco intervention (38.32%). Exploratory analyses revealed that always asking even if patients are healthy, strongly agreeing that tobacco causes cardiac disease, and always advising smoke-free homes were associated with always asking. Overall, results demonstrate a disconnect between HCW belief and practice. Though most agreed that always asking about tobacco was important, fewer than half did so. Gaps in HCW knowledge and practices suggest a need for education and policy/infrastructure support. To our knowledge, this is the first reported survey of DR HCWs regarding tobacco, and provides a foundation for future tobacco control in the DR.

Keywords: tobacco cessation; low-middle income country; primary health care; socioeconomic status; global health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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