The perceptions and practices of pediatricians: tobacco intervention.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate pediatrician self-reported intervention practices related to tobacco use and cessation. We queried about practices with three groups 1) children/adolescents who do not smoke; 2) children/adolescents who smoke; and 3) parents, and the relationship of counseling practices with the personal and professional practice-related factors of pediatricians.

DESIGN: Mailed anonymous survey regarding their self-reported tobacco use prevention and cessation intervention practices.

POPULATION: Random sample of 350 pediatricians in one state.

RESULTS: A response rate of 75% was achieved. Pediatricians reported the greatest counseling practice in encouraging children/adolescents to not start smoking, followed by counseling adolescents who smoke. The lowest practice score was for intervening with parents who smoke. The age, gender, site of practice (eg, HMO, solo practice), and subspecialty status of the pediatricians were not related to practice. Pediatricians who reported at least some community involvement in local tobacco control efforts reported significantly higher levels of smoking cessation counseling with both children and adolescents and with parents who smoke. Pediatricians who reported previous training in counseling about tobacco issues also reported significantly higher levels of counseling of both adolescent smokers and parents who smoke but not of children and adolescents who do not smoke. Higher role perception, believing that smoking cessation counseling provided by pediatricians can be effective, and self-efficacy, were predictive of intervention with all three groups. The perceived barriers scale was not related to intervention with any group.

CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians are missing opportunities to help their patients to stop smoking and to prevent smoking initiation. Pediatricians are intervening least frequently with parents who smoke. Practices should be tailored to the specific target group.