Smoking by French general practitioners: behaviour, attitudes and practice

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Practice
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Examines smoking prevalence and sociodemographic factors among French general practitioners (GPs).
• Investigates the medical practices of GPs concerning smoking cessation interventions.
• Assesses GPs' perceptions of their effectiveness in helping patients quit smoking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of smoking among French GPs.
• To identify sociodemographic factors associated with smoking in this population.
• To understand the role of GPs in smoking cessation and their opinions on intervention effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a 1998 cross-sectional national survey of 2,073 French GPs.
• Employed telephone-administered questionnaires to collect data on medical practice, sociodemographics, and health behaviors.
• Conducted bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses to identify significant associations.

Main Results:

• A significant smoking prevalence of 32.1% was found among French GPs.
• Male GPs exhibited higher smoking rates (33.9%) compared to female GPs (25.4%).
• Former smokers and GPs dissatisfied with their profession were more likely to perceive their smoking cessation interventions as ineffective.

Conclusions:

• The study underscores the necessity for increased professional engagement in reducing smoking rates among French GPs.
• Highlights the importance of educating GPs on their crucial role in promoting smoking cessation in the general population.
• Suggests a need for targeted interventions and support for GPs to improve their effectiveness in smoking cessation.