Australian general practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and prescribing intentions for e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid: a nationwide baseline and 12-month follow up survey.
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The Australian Government introduced a major policy change tightening regulations regarding the access to nicotine containing e-cigarettes in October 2021. We assessed general practitioners' (GPs) knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and intentions to prescribe nicotine containing e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. We compared baseline data near the time of policy change with data collected from these GPs 12-months later.
Methods: GPs were invited to complete a repeated cross-sectional survey based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour between December 2021 and March 2022 (T1) and again, between January and April 2023 (T2). Survey questions assessed knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and intention to prescribe e-cigarettes for smoking cessation.
Results: A total of 264 GPs completed the baseline (T1) survey and 94 provided responses at follow-up (T2). Over half of responders were female (T1 n = 170, 64.4%, T2 n = 57, 60.6%) and roughly one third were aged between 30 and 39 years (T1 n = 80, 37.2%, T2 n = 28, 29.8%). Participants who agreed e-cigarettes were suitable smoking cessation aids were more willing to recommend e-cigarettes to patients at T1 and T2 (T1 n = 29, 87.9%, vs. T2 n = 20, 100%). Knowledge about e-cigarettes was limited and did not change between T1 and T2. Participants who had greater confidence in their ability to talk to and answer patient questions about e-cigarettes were more likely to recommend them for smoking cessation at both T1 and T2 (T1 n = 24, 70.6% vs. T2 n = 17, 85.0%).
Conclusion: Since tightening the regulation of nicotine containing e-cigarettes, there has been little change in Australian GPs' perceptions of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids. Australian GPs are poorly educated about vaping and knowledge about e-cigarettes remained limited, however, GPs at follow-up were more confident in their ability to discuss e-cigarettes with their patients. The findings from this survey may help guide policy and develop strategies to support the implementation of smoking cessation guidelines that incorporate the use of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids in Australia.
背景：澳大利亚政府于2021年10月出台了一项重大政策变化，收紧了有关获取含尼古丁电子烟的规定。我们评估了全科医生（gp）的知识、态度、信念和意图，以处方含尼古丁的电子烟戒烟。我们将政策变化前后的基线数据与12个月后从这些全科医生那里收集的数据进行了比较。方法：邀请全科医生在2021年12月至2022年3月（T1）和2023年1月至4月（T2）期间完成基于计划行为理论的重复横断面调查。调查问题评估了使用电子烟戒烟的知识、态度、信念和意图。结果：共有264名全科医生完成了基线（T1）调查，94名全科医生在随访（T2）时提供了反馈。超过一半的应答者为女性（T1 n = 170, 64.4%, T2 n = 57, 60.6%），大约三分之一的应答者年龄在30 - 39岁之间（T1 n = 80, 37.2%, T2 n = 28, 29.8%）。同意电子烟是合适的戒烟辅助工具的参与者在T1和T2时更愿意向患者推荐电子烟（T1 n = 29,87.9%, T2 n = 20,100%）。对电子烟的了解是有限的，在T1和T2之间没有变化。对自己与患者交谈并回答有关电子烟问题的能力更有信心的参与者更有可能在T1和T2推荐他们戒烟（T1 n = 24, 70.6% vs T2 n = 17, 85.0%）。结论：自从加强对含尼古丁电子烟的监管以来，澳大利亚全科医生对电子烟作为戒烟辅助工具的看法几乎没有变化。澳大利亚全科医生对电子烟的了解程度很低，对电子烟的了解仍然有限，然而，随访的全科医生对他们与患者讨论电子烟的能力更有信心。这项调查的结果可能有助于指导政策和制定战略，以支持实施戒烟指南，其中包括在澳大利亚使用电子烟作为戒烟辅助手段。
期刊介绍：
Harm Reduction Journal is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, online journal whose focus is on the prevalent patterns of psychoactive drug use, the public policies meant to control them, and the search for effective methods of reducing the adverse medical, public health, and social consequences associated with both drugs and drug policies. We define "harm reduction" as "policies and programs which aim to reduce the health, social, and economic costs of legal and illegal psychoactive drug use without necessarily reducing drug consumption". We are especially interested in studies of the evolving patterns of drug use around the world, their implications for the spread of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne pathogens.
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