A Cross-Sectional Study of the Alarming Prevalence of Smoking Among Lebanese Physicians and Its Negative Impact on Promoting Cessation

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of smoking among physicians. As physicians are on the front line caring for patients’ health, a detailed analysis of their smoking habits and its impact on counseling their patients to quit is warranted. So far, no study in Lebanon has addressed the real prevalence of physicians smoking and its impact on promoting cessation. This study aims to fill this purpose. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted using a web-based self-administered questionnaire was e-mailed to 4037 Lebanese physicians between November 2015 and February 2016. The questionnaire included 11 questions about basic sociodemographic information (age, gender, work province, specialty), smoking habits and attitude towards smoking cessation. SPSS was used for analysis. The main outcome was to calculate the percentage of physicians that smoke,  its relationship to gender and age, and its impact on counseling their patients about smoking cessation. Results: 529 responders were analyzed (13.1% response rate). A high rate of physician ever-smokers was noted at 37% (n=195) whereas the prevalence of current smokers was 13% (n=70).. In addition, there was a difference in the gender of ever-smoking physicians where 47% of males were smokers compared to 20% of females only. Regarding the prevalence of smoking within different specialties, it was noted that 35% (n=74) of internal medicine physicians were ever-smokers compared to approximately 50% (n=51/102) of surgeons. There was a statistically significant difference between former-smokers and current-smokers in regards to how frequently they urge their patients to quit smoking. Conclusion: The high prevalence of smoking among Lebanese physicians is depicted and its negative impact on counseling patients to quit is a serious consequence. This is a major drawback in the fight against tobacco and further awareness may be needed among our future doctors to increase smoking cessation counseling and decrease the burden of smoking in Lebanon and worldwide.