Abstract

Cessation of tobacco use is one of the most important public health actions whose successful implementation is of particular importance provide technical support to smokers in the process of withdrawal. Health centers or teams of family medicine are an ideal place for this kind of support. It was also noted, however, that they do not have the skills and knowledge necessary for successful work in this area. Therefore, the Institute for Health Protection of RS, Regional Doboj Office organized education for doctors of medicine’s health of RS. Education was based on trans-theoretical model of behavior change, authors–Prohaska and Di Klemente. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of education on the process of medical doctors in primary health care in working with smokers and their quitting. An audit of certain doctor’s patient cards before and after six months of education (conditional on the length of time the project) was performed. The following were checked: if the smoking status was identified, if the stage of change was recorded, estimated level of dependence on nicotine, if the advice was given to the stages of behavioral changes, and if general advice was given. Using hi square test found that there has been a process of improving the education for all parameters followed, and at the level of statistical significance. Attendants themselves in the survey expressed high agreement that education is useful (62.2%) or very useful (31.6%) for their practice. This suggests the need to continue this kind of education which would also include the medical nurses.

Key words: doctor education, smoking, cessation