Smoking Prevalence Declines Among Health-Care Professionals
In a study reported as a research letter in JAMA, Sarna et al found that the prevalence of smoking among U.S. health-care professionals was 8.3% in 2010/2011, representing decreases of 23.4% since 2003 and 19.3% since 2006/2007. A previous study had shown no marked reduction in smoking rates among health-care practitioners between 2003 and 2006/2007, with licensed practical nurses having the highest rate (20.5%) and physicians the lowest (2.3%) in 2006/2007.
Prevalence and Changes
The study involved evaluation of publicly available data from self-respondents to the Tobacco Use Supplement (response rate = 63%) to the Current Population Survey (response rate = 93%).
For 2010/2011, the prevalence of smoking in the general population was estimated at 16.1%, with a 14.9% decrease from 2003 and a 13.0% decrease from 2006/2007. The 2010/2011 survey data from 2,975 health-care professionals indicated that 8.3% were current smokers. Prevalence rates were 1.95% for physicians, 3.0% for pharmacists, 7.0% for dental hygienists, 7.1% for registered nurses, 11.6% for respiratory therapists, and 25% for licensed practical nurses.
From 2003, the prevalence rate decreased by 23.4% for all practitioners (P = .004), including decreases of 63.9% for pharmacists, 36.4% for registered nurses (P < .001), 25.0% for respiratory therapists, 9.7% for physicians, and 0.1% for dental hygienists and an increase of 6.4% for licensed practical nurses. Between 2006/2007 and 2010/2011, the prevalence rate decreased by 19.3% for all practitioners (P = .01), including decreases of 43.0% for dental hygienists, 39.8% for respiratory therapists, 33.9% for registered nurses (P = .001), 15.6% for physicians, and 7.1% for pharmacists and an increase of 21.6% for licensed practical nurses.
Former- and Never-Smoker Rates
In the 2010/2011 survey, proportions of persons in the general population who reported themselves as former smokers and never-smokers were 18.6% and 65.3%. Proportions of health-care practitioners reporting themselves as former- and never-smokers were 13.7% and 77.9% overall, including 8.5% and 9.5% for physicians, 16.8% and 76.1% for registered nurses, 12.0% and 63.0% for licensed practical nurses, 10.9% and 86.0% for pharmacists, 14.3% and 74.1% for respiratory therapists, and 14.7% and 78.3% for dental hygienists.
By profession, the only significant changes in proportions of practitioners who quit smoking between 2006/2007 and 2010/2011 were for registered nurses (from 62.1% to 70.3%; 13.2% increase, P = .04) and for licensed practical nurses (from 46.35% to 32.5%; 29.9% decrease, P = .02).
The investigators concluded, “The majority of health care professionals continued as never smokers. In 2010-2011, current smoking among these health care professionals, excepting licensed practical nurses, was lower than the general population (16.08%). Recent declines in smoking among health care professionals may reflect the impact of national tobacco control policies and efforts focused on reducing smoking among registered nurses.”
Linda Sarna, PhD, RN, of University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nusing, is the corresponding author for the JAMA research letter.
The study was funded in part by an endowment from University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nursing. Dr. Sarna is a consultant for the International Society for Nurses in Cancer Care and receives funding from Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning and Change.
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