The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: to evaluate smoking status, nicotinic dependency and patient knowledge towards tobacco smoking.

Methods: standard questionnaires were distributed in 96 patients ( 21 women, 75 men) hospitalised for TB.

Results: only 5 women were smokers, 3 ever tried to quit and only one ever heard about smoking cessation methods. In men, only 7 were never smokers, while 15 ex-smokers and 53 active smokers ( 24 moderate dependency, 29 severe dependency). Ex-smokers gave up smoking because: respiratory symptoms (9 cases), other reasons. 29,3% men have no knowledge about noxious substances in cigarettes; 33,3% mentionned nicotine as main toxic and 8% know about nicotine and tar. 15 men never thought to quit. 30 men had quitting attempts and reasons for failure were: nicotine dependency (13 patients), passive smoking (13 cases), stress (4 patients). Only 92,7% of active smokers are aware of tobacco consumption`s risks. Lung cancer and COPD were known by all of them. 13 patients never received brief advice to quit. 60% of our TB patients were smokers, mostly men. They do not possess minimum knowledge about toxic compounds in cigarettes but are aware of severe tobacco related diseases. They had several quitting attempts but based only on own will. Minimum cessation advice was provided especially by chest physicians.