Study of exit survey and awareness program analysis on tobacco cessation counselling amongst the health care professionals of the tertiary care

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco addiction in the rural community is very high, where we require efforts to break this addiction. Our aim was to find out the impact of awareness program on the current status of counselling on cessation of use of tobacco by the healthcare workers in various OPDs of PRH, Loni. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients visiting any of the OPD of Pravara satisfying the stated inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. We conducted awareness survey amongst the health care professionals on tobacco cessation counselling. RESULTS: In our study, 423 patients (79.2%) were not enquired regarding tobacco use by doctor to the patients, while 111 patients (20.8%) were asked for the same. Of the 111 patients who were enquired about tobacco use, 35 patients (31.5%) were given support for tobacco cessation. Thus overall (out of 534 patients), only 6.17% received support for tobacco cessation. Of these patients, most were given verbal counselling (13, 2.43%), followed by prescription of Nicotine replacement therapy in the form of nicotine gum (8, 1.5%) and one patient (0.19%) referred to the Tobacco Cessation center. Eleven patients (2.1%) did not recall the support provided. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for awareness among health care professionals in order to investigate, consult and stop smoking cessation. Our research strongly identifies an opportunity to significantly increase access to tobacco control services in rural India.