PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Ahmed Suleman Haque AU - Muhammad Irfan AU - Zeeshan Waheed AU - Javaid Khan TI - Effectiveness of smoking cessation skills building workshops in educating smoking cessation techniques to Pakistani physicians DP - 2012 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P1971 VI - 40 IP - Suppl 56 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1971.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P1971.full SO - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40 AB - Introduction: Physician advice to quit smoking is an effective component of a smoking cessation strategy. Published data indicates that teaching/training smoking cessation skills to physicians improves their smoking cessation practices and increases quit rates among their patients.Objective: To determine the effectiveness of smoking cessation skills building workshops (SCW) among local physicians.Methods: Five one-day SCW were arranged across Pakistani cities. A validated questionnaire assessing attitude and knowledge related to smoking was administered pre-workshops (PRW) and immediately post-workshops (POW) attendance.Results: 113 physicians completed the SCW. 90 were men. Age range was 22-61 years (mean age ±SD 37±11 yrs). 72 were GPs, 11 chest physicians, 11 cardiologists, 8 consultant internist and 11 trainee physicians.Post workshop the physicians felt 'very confident' about their knowledge to treat nicotine dependence- 15.9% (PRW) vs. 64.6% (POW); they felt 'very confident' in discussing the smoking cessation issues with their patients- 52.2% (PRW) vs. 80.9% (POW); their knowledge regarding pharmacotherapy improved- 9.7% (PRW) vs. 49.1% (POW). The 5As approach was answered correctly by 17.7% (PRW) vs. 69.9% (POW). Appropriate prescribing of Nicotine Replacement Therapy improved - 39.8% (PRW) vs. 61.1% (POW). Awareness of possible adverse effects of medications enhanced - 46.9% (PRW) vs. 71.1% (POW).Conclusion: After attending a one-full day smoking cessation skills building workshop, physician's felt more confident in discussing anti-smoking issues with their patients and their smoking cessation knowledge improved significantly.