Knowledge and awareness of nicotine, nicotine replacement therapy, and electronic cigarettes among general practitioners with a special interest in respiratory medicine in China

Qian Zhong; Kang An; Zengxiang Wu; Haijun Zhang; Shengxi Li; Lin Zhang; Caizheng Li; Heting Li; Qi Mei Zhuo Ga; De Ji Yang Zong; Zhenmei An

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1236453

Knowledge and awareness of nicotine, nicotine replacement therapy, and electronic cigarettes among general practitioners with a special interest in respiratory medicine in China

Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Jan 8:10:1236453. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1236453. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Qian Zhong^#¹, Kang An^#², Zengxiang Wu², Haijun Zhang², Shengxi Li³, Lin Zhang², Caizheng Li², Heting Li³, Qi Mei Zhuo Ga⁴, De Ji Yang Zong⁴, Zhenmei An¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
² General Practice Ward/International Medical Center Ward, General Practice Medical Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Multimorbidity Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
³ West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁴ Department of General Practice, People's Hospital of Lhasa, Lhasa, Tibet, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of nicotine, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among general practitioners with a special interest (GPwSIs) in respiratory medicine.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to February 2022. Knowledge and awareness were compared among smokers and non-smokers, as well as different age and gender groups.

Results: The study consisted of 102 GPwSIs from 21 cities in Sichuan Province, China. Most respondents would recommend NRT for long-term use. Only a few believed that e-cigarettes are an effective means of smoking cessation and 71.6% would not recommend e-cigarettes as a substitute for cigarettes to their patients. Additionally, the majority did not regularly provide extensive help to assist patients in quitting smoking and needed smoking cessation counseling training.

Conclusion: GPwSIs in respiratory medicine in China could have a relatively low level of knowledge and awareness regarding nicotine, NRT, and e-cigarettes. The study highlights the need for smoking cessation training among GPwSIs to improve their knowledge and provide better assistance to patients who want to quit smoking.

Keywords: awareness; electronic cigarettes; general practitioners with a special interest; knowledge; nicotine.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (Grant number Z2021JC005) and Sichuan Science and Technology Program (Grant number 2021YFH0168).