Evaluation of the degree of tobacco addiction and the adequacy of orientation received by hospitalized smokers

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking is a chronic disease and a major risk factor for other diseases with high mortality. It’s physician’s duty to properly guide their patients to quit smoking. For that, the orientations must be scientifically based for effective management of the disease, with motivational interventions with or without pharmacotherapy. Objective: analyze the dependence degree of hospitalized smokers, using Fagerström test, comparing received orientations about quit smoking with pharmacological and non-pharmacological orientation present in literature. Methods: cross-sectional observational study with structured questionnaire applied to 60 smokers at the moment of hospital discharge from “Complexo Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná” (CHC/UFPR). Results: The patient sample was composed of 31 male patients and 29 female patients. 68.3% of the patients had more than 55 years. The median of the dependence degree was 5 (average degree). There was statistically significant difference between groups with present and absent orientation, regarding to the degree of motivation. 44.2% of the patients who had received orientation were in action phase, indicating that physicians guide more patients who already begun planning quit smoking. 35.3% of the patients with absent orientation were in pre-contemplation and 41.2% were in contemplation, suggesting that patients who don't have an insight to quit smoking are less oriented. Between correctly and incorrectly oriented groups, there was statistically significant difference in the type of hospital guidance. Among incorrectly oriented, 18 were oriented only motivationally, indicating an insufficient orientation trend. Conclusions: 51,2% of the orientations are performed incorrectly, expressing the need to re-evaluate the approach and treatment of smoking. There is the need of active search of smokers during the medical care and correct orientation for efficient treatment of the disease, addressing motivational side and pharmacotherapy.