Smoking habits during the COVID pandemic: data from Greek healthcare professionals’ population.

Abstract

Background: Although smoking is associated with more severe outcomes of COVID-19, little is known about smoking habits during the COVID pandemic. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are significant role models for the society and their smoking habits are critical concerning the general public attitudes.

Aim: to determine the smoking levels of HCPs, to assess the effect of the pandemic on their smoking attitude and to evaluate possible associations with their psychological status.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was conducted among HCPs of Northern Greece in 2020 by emails delivered from the local medical and nursing stuff associations including basic information (age, gender, marriage, education level, etc.), smoking status (Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI)) contact with COVID-19 patients, quarantine status, current physical condition, Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI), DAR-5 (anger), PHQ-4(depression and anxiety), Loneliness scale (LS).

Results: 1057 HCPs answered (males 45.3%) 79% doctors with mean age 45.2± 11.7years and HIS 2.4±1.7. 32% of HCPs smoked: 24.9% smoked more cigarettes during the pandemic, 14.2% smoked less, 7% stopped smoking and 54% did not change their smoking habits. There was an association between alcohol use and smoking (p=0.002). A weak but significant correlation was found between LS and HIS (r=0.22, p=0.02) and especially with ‘how soon after you wake up do you have your first cigarette’ (r=0.28, p=0.001). SCI, LS and PHQ-4 of HCPs that smoked more were significantly higher compared with the other groups.

Conclusions: During the pandemic, most of the HCPs that smoked continued their smoking habits as before, 25% increased their cigarettes and only 7% stopped.