Evaluation of Patients' Knowledge Regarding Smoking and Chronic Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study

Over the last decade, a strong association has been found between smoking and chronic pancreatitis. Some studies suggest that smoking may be a more important cause of chronic pancreatitis than alcohol and the two are additive. The primary purpose of our study was to test the use of a questionnaire to assess patient's knowledge regarding the association of smoking with pancreatic disease.

The questionnaire was administered prospectively during a 9 month period in 2013 to patients referred to a pancreas clinic at the University of Alabama Birmingham. The primary purpose of the questionnaire was to investigate patient awareness regarding the association of smoking with pancreatic disease; however, it was also designed for assessing doctor-patient communication regarding smoking in general and pancreatic disease specifically and the patient's stage of change for quitting smoking.

Eighteen patients (mean age 52 years; 85% male) were used for the analysis. The data analysis showed that 56% of patients were aware of the relationship between smoking and chronic pancreatitis and 72% were aware about alcohol and pancreatitis. Patients related that physicians were an important reference source for their knowledge regarding the causes of chronic pancreatitis, but only 39% stated that their physician had specifically mention the effect of smoking on the pancreas.

Elaborate studies involving greater number of study population, are necessary to better define measuring tools and to further assess patient's knowledge regarding the relationship between smoking and chronic pancreatitis. Additionally, efforts should be directed towards enhancing physician's knowledge on this established relationship and the importance of patient education as well.