Missed opportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice in South African primary health care: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary health care (PHC) settings offer opportunities for tobacco use screening and brief cessation advice, but data on such activities in South Africa are limited. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which participants were screened for and advised against tobacco use during consultations.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 500 participants, 18 years and older, attended by doctors or PHC nurses. Using an exit-interview questionnaire, information was obtained on participants' tobacco use status, reason(s) for seeking medical care, whether participants had been screened for and advised about their tobacco use and patients' level of comfort about being asked about and advised to quit tobacco use. Main outcome measures included patients' se

SUBMITTER: Omole OB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3009621 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature