Nurses' Role in Smoking Cessation: Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours

This dissertation, "Nurses' Role in Smoking Cessation: Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours" by 叢珮琪, Pui-kee, Peggy, Tsung, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of thesis entitled Nurses' role in smoking cessation: knowledge, attitudes and behaviours submitted by Tsung Pui Kee, Peggy for the degree of Master of Nursing in Advanced Practice at the University of Hong Kong in August 2002 Introduction: Tobacco is a uniquely harmful consumer product, and the single most preventable cause of death. It is a risk factor of many serious diseases. Even after a diagnosis of cancer, benefits of smoking cessation exist. Nurses, who have been frequently involved in the care of smoking clients, have the responsibility to prepare themselves in helping smokers quit. However, nurses' role in smoking cessation has been less clearly explicated in Hong Kong. Therefore, a study on nurses' role in smoking cessation in Hong Kong is needed. The present study on nurses' role in smoking cessation in Hong Kong was introduced to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of registered nurses towards smoking cessation. Aims: (1) To provide the first known information describing nurses' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours on smoking cessation. (2) To study the relationships among nurses' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours on smoking cessation. (3) To use the findings to develop recommendations for future nursing guidelines on smoking cessation in Hong Kong. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was employed. A self-administered questionnaire concerning the participant's knowledge, attitudes and behaviours on smoking cessation was administered to all registered nurses who were working in the settings with client contact in the Department of Health of Hong Kong in summer of 2001. Of those who received the questionnaires, 432 participants (38%) were available for analysis. iResults: The typical participants were female (93.3%), with the largest group (34.7%) between 36 to 40 years old. The majority (72.1%) was Registered Nurse and 59.2% had been qualified as a registered nurse for 11 to 20 years. 33.9% and 2.1% had respectively obtained a bachelor and postgraduate degree while only 13.2% had been trained in smoking cessation counseling. Almost all (99.1%) had never smoked. The majority (76.9%) had good knowledge and positive attitudes (90.3%) towards smoking cessation. However, their involvements in smoking cessation mainly focused on advising their patients about quitting smoking and they less frequently provided the interventions that were necessary for successful cessation and prevention of relapse. Their common hindering factors included "unmotivated patient" (84.5%), "lack of time" (68.9%), and "lack of resources" (64%). Nurses who had higher nursing qualification (p=0.015) and those who had been trained in smoking cessation counseling (p=0.009) were more likely to have better knowledge in smoking cessation. Nurses who had family member(s) died form a tobacco-related disease (p=0.026) and those who had been trained in smoking cessation counseling (p=0.000) tended to have more involvement as well as competence in smoking cessation. Results also showed that nurses' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours on smoking cessation were positively correlated. Conclusions: Continuous professional education and training in smoking cessation counseling are the two most important strategies in improving nurses' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in smoking cessation. Tobacco control and smoking cessation should be considere