Tobacco use among healthcare professionals and their readiness to implement cessation treatments among patients in Primary Care facilities in Soweto, Johannesburg

Abstract

Background: Despite its hampering influence on healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) willingness to implement tobacco cessation treatments (TCT), tobacco use remains understudied in South Africa. Objective: To determine the prevalence of tobacco use among HCPs and its influence on their readiness to implement TCT for their patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study sampled 444 HCPs in five Community health centres in Soweto. A self-administered questionnaire collected information on socio- demography, tobacco use, quit attempts and HCPs’ readiness to implement TCT for their patients. Readiness was defined as a construct of HCPs’ rating of the importance of TCT and their confidence in implementing it. Results: The mean participant age was 41 years. Most were female (80%;n=355), single (54.1%;n=240) and black (91.6%;n=405). About 22%(96) were ever-users of tobacco, 12.6%(n=56) current users and 9%(n=40) ex-users. Among current users, 64.3%(n=36) smoked only cigarettes, 17.9%(n=10) used only snuff, and 14.3%(n=8) used other products. About 56.6%(n=30) of current users had contemplated quitting in the past year. Approximately 68%(n=300) and 82.2%(n=365) of participants were ready and willing to implement TCT, respectively. Only 32%(n=143) and 25%(n=107) of participants had received any training on tobacco use and TCT, respectively. There was no significant association between tobacco use and readiness to implement TCT (p=0.50). Conclusion: Tobacco use is prevalent among HCPs and has no influence on the implementation of TCT in South African primary health care. Although most HCPs reported readiness and willingness, there is a need to scale up training, both during formal health professions education and in continued professional development. Contribution: This is one of few recent studies demonstrating the concerning rate of tobacco product use among HCPs in South African PHC. Although there is a high level of readiness to implement TCT for their patients, most HCPs still need training to ensure their self-efficacy.