Attitudes of healthcare workers towards smoking

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Questionnaire survey of health workers’ attitudes towards and knowledge of smoking

  • IRAS ID

    237289

  • Contact name

    Neil Brimblecombe

  • Contact email

    Brimblen@lsbu.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    London South Bank University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 3 months, 3 days

  • Research summary

    Smoking remains a major risk to health and life, with almost 80,000 deaths attributable annually to smoking in England. Vulnerable and needy groups within society, including those with severe mental health problems, are particularly likely to smoke and suffer the health consequences.
    Understanding attitudes toward smoking is important at both an individual and a societal level. This study seeks to gather data via an online survey regarding health workers’ attitudes to smoking and their understanding of key smoking related facts. The survey will also investigate views about e-cigarettes and how harm-reduction interventions are supported.
    Healthcare professionals potentially play a key role in the process of smoking cessation as advisers, prescribers and behavioural models for patients. Their attitudes to, and knowledge of, smoking is likely to influence the help that they give to smokers and the introduction of measures to reduce smoking amongst patient groups.
    The study involves contacting a range of NHS organisations (Trusts) and requesting that they participate in the study by sharing information about the study and how to participate with their clinical staff. Healthcare workers can then respond to a confidential, online questionnaire survey, which asks about current roles and experience, and views and knowledge about smoking.
    The survey is of 3 parts, two questionnaires and demographics. The survey typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete. The findings from this research may be used to inform and guide proposals for education, training and healthcare interventions.
    Each participating Trust will be provided with a summary report of the findings from their own organisation. Information about the organisation’s data will be confidential and not shared with any other party without explicit permission.

  • REC name

    N/A

  • REC reference

    N/A