Abstract

VARONA PEREZ, Patricia et al. Tabaquismo y sus características en trabajadores de la salud. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2000, vol.16, n.3, pp.221-226. ISSN 0864-2125.

Physicians and other health professionals are important sources of influence to attain positive changes of the smoking levels. The results of a cross-sectional study of 221 health workers from the Centro Habana municipality are shown in this study that is aimed at determining among these individuals the prevalence of smoking and its characteristics, how they perceive the smoking risk, and at identifying proposals to reduce the frequency of smokers and the consumption of cigarettes. Quantitative and qualitative research techniques (focal groups) were applied. The questionnarie included sociodemographic variables, variables connected with the consumption and variables related to the perception of the smoking risk. As regards the qualitative aspect, proposals to reduce this conduct were explored. 32% of the physicians and 46% of the nurses smoked at the time the survey was done. Among the smokers there were more moderate and severe smokers and they felt less limited to smoke at their working centers that nurses. l7% of them and 20% of the nurses accepted that smoking represented more benefits than damages. In both groups it was observed a distorsioned perception of the smoking risk. Some of the proposals made by the own workers that should be taken into account on implementing intervention projects were the following: To strenghten at the primary care level the services of cessation for smokers, to fulfill the smoking regulations at the working centers, to apply sanctions to those who violate the rules and to spread systematically the important role played by physicians and nurses as agents of changes in society

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