The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Present study aims to explore health care providers' views on professionals' and patients' roles in respect of prevention and treatment of lifestyle related diseases in this case smoking cessation. Research questions are 1) how does health profession perceive their role in health behaviour change generally and among patients with lifestyle related diseases, 2) what is the perceived role of patient in treatment of lifestyle related diseases, 3) is there a difference in attitudes and perceptions between physicians and nurses in respect of question 1-2.

Methods: Study population includes physicians and public health nurses in one hospital district (population 200 000) in Finland (n=XX). Aquestionnaire was sent to health care personnel treating metabolic syndrome and lifestyle related diseases in primary and secondary care with special emphasis was on clinical guidelines and counselling. The response rate was 59%.

Results: A minority of physicians (9%) and nurses (15%) reported that it is awkward to intervene patients smoking. Nearly a third of respondents considered that insufficient knowledge of the dangers of smoking is never a barrier to quitting. A majority of both physicians and nurses were of the opinion that a major barrier of treatment is patients' unwillingness to change their habits Conclusion: Medical profession interprets patient's passive behaviour in health behaviour as not being willing to act. More practical tools for assessing willingness is needed.