Avaliação do conhecimento sobre tabagismo em pacientes internados Evaluation of hospitalized patients in terms of their knowledge related to smoking

Abstract

OBJETIVO: Determinar características relacionadas ao tabagismo e avaliar o conhecimento sobre a relação entre dependência nicotínica e doenças relacionadas ao tabaco em pacientes internados. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados em 186 pacientes (59% de homens; média de idade = 51,3 ± 16,8 anos) internados em um hospital público quanto a características demográficas, diagnóstico de internação, história tabágica e tabagismo passivo. Todos os pacientes responderam um questionário sobre o conhecimento da relação tabagismo/doença. RESULTADOS: Dos 186 pacientes, 42 (22,6%) eram fumantes, 64 (34,4%) eram ex-tabagistas e 80 (43%) referiam nunca ter fumado; 136 (73%) referiam exposição passiva ao fumo. O diagnóstico de admissão foi o de doença possivelmente relacionada ao tabaco em 21,5% dos pacientes e em 39% dos fumantes ativos e ex-fumantes. A proporção de fumantes e ex-fumantes que não conheciam a associação entre o tabagismo e a causa de internação foi similar (56% vs. 65%). Apenas 19% dos fumantes e 32% dos ex-fumantes acreditavam que o tabagismo tivesse afetado sua saúde (p = 0,22). A proporção de ex-fumantes e de não fumantes que acreditavam que parar de fumar é uma questão de vontade foi significativamente maior que aquela de fumantes ativos (64% e 53%, respectivamente, vs. 24%; p OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics related to smoking in hospitalized patients and to assess the knowledge that such patients have regarding the relationship between nicotine dependence and smoking-related diseases. METHODS: The study included 186 patients (males, 59%; mean age, 51.3 ± 16.8 years) who were evaluated regarding demographic characteristics, diagnosis at admission, smoking history and passive smoke exposure. All of the patients completed a questionnaire regarding their knowledge of the relationship between smoking and disease. RESULTS: Of the 186 patients, 42 (22.6%) were smokers, 64 (34.4%) were former smokers and 80 (43%) stated they were never smokers; 136 (73%) reported passive smoke exposure. In the sample as a whole, 21.5% of the patients were diagnosed with a smoking-related disease at admission, compared with 39% of those who were smokers or former smokers. The proportion of individuals who were unaware of the relationship between smoking and the cause of hospitalization was similar among current smokers and former smokers (56% and 65%, respectively). Only 19% of the current smokers believed that smoking might have affected their health, compared with 32% of the former smokers (p = 0.22). The proportion of individuals who believed that quitting smoking depends on willpower was significantly higher among former smokers and never smokers than among current smokers (64% and 53%, respectively, vs. 24%; p < 0.001 and p = 0.008). Although 96% of the patients believed that smoking causes dependence, only 60% identified smoking as a disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the disconnect between the recognition of smoking as a cause of dependence and the recognition of smoking as a disease, as well as the general lack of awareness that former and current smoking constitute a risk factor for the development and progression of disease.

Keywords

• Tabagismo
• Transtorno por uso de tabaco
• Abandono do hábito de fumar
• Smoking
• Tobacco use disorder
• Smoking cessation