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Global Health Matters

November - December, 2007  |  Volume 6, Issue 6

Survey of Chinese Physicians' Smoking Habits Has Led to Nationwide Non-smoking Campaign

Photo: Dr. James Herrington,
Fogarty

As a result of a Fogarty-funded survey of Chinese physicians and their smoking knowledge, attitudes and practices, the China Centers for Disease Control has begun a nationwide nonsmoking campaign for physicians and medical students--and a smoke-free hospital campaign.

China consumes more cigarettes than any country in the world and is a key battleground in the fight against the global tobacco epidemic, according to the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Smoking in China has tremendous health consequences--even for nonsmokers, the majority of whom are women who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work. Physicians can play a key role in encouraging smokers to quit. However, little had been known about Chinese physicians' attitudes and practices regarding smoking.

The study team, led by Dr. Yuan Jiang of the National Tobacco Control Office of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, found that 23 percent of 3,552 hospital-based physicians surveyed from six Chinese cities (Chengdu, Guangzhou, Harbin, Lanzhou, Tianjin and Wuhanon) were smokers. These numbers are substantially higher than in the U.S. (3.3 percent) and the U.K. (6.8 percent). The numbers of physicians who smoke in China reflect U.S. and U.K. numbers, prior to the publication of first Surgeon General's report detailing the health consequences of smoking in 1964.

Only 30 percent of the Chinese physicians reported good implementation of smoke-free workplace policies; 37 percent of current Chinese physicians who are smokers have smoked in front of their patients.

Sixty-four percent of the Chinese physicians have advised smokers to quit. However, only 48 percent have asked their patients about their smoking status and only 29 percent believe smokers will follow their cessation advice. Less than seven percent have set quit dates or use pharmacotherapy when helping smokers quit. Although 95 percent and 89 percent, respectively, know that active or passive smoking causes lung cancer, only 66 percent and 53 percent, respectively, know that active or passive smoking causes heart disease.

The research team said this effort may support China's ratification the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which recommends cigarette tax increases enforcement of smoke-free environments, advertising restrictions and counter-marketing and provision of cessation aids.

Chinese Physicians and Their Smoking Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices, Jiang Y, Ong, MK, Tong, EK, Yang Y, Nan, Y, Gan, Q, Hu, T. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2007.

The study can be found at: http://www.ajpm-online.net