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VOLUME 62 , ISSUE 1 ( January-March, 2020 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Connecting the Dots: Feasibility Study of DOTS Health Workers in Tobacco Cessation in New Delhi, India

Sumbul Hashmi, Vikrant R. Mohanty, Y.B. Aswini, Nandini Sharma, Ashwani Khanna, Kavitha Rijhwani

Keywords : Smoking, Smokeless tobacco, Tuberculosis

Citation Information : Hashmi S, Mohanty VR, Aswini Y, Sharma N, Khanna A, Rijhwani K. Connecting the Dots: Feasibility Study of DOTS Health Workers in Tobacco Cessation in New Delhi, India. Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2020; 62 (1):13-17.

DOI: 10.5005/ijcdas-62-1-13

License: NA

Published Online: 07-03-2020

Copyright Statement:  NA


Abstract

Objective: There is enough evidence concerning risks for tuberculosis (TB) morbidity and mortality associated with smoking. Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) programme could prove synergistic in fighting two major social health problems, TB and tobacco. The present study was done to assess the knowledge, attitude and current practices of DOTS health workers in providing tobacco cessation advice to TB patients. Methods: A cross-sectional, close-ended, questionnaire-based study was carried out amongst 209 DOTS providers and allied health workers across various Chest Clinics and DOTS Centres in Delhi to assess the knowledge, attitude and current practices of DOTS providers in tobacco cessation. Results: Sixty percent DOTS providers were aware of the diseases associated with tobacco use and overall health impact of quitting tobacco. 71% DOTS providers admitted that they were unable to help TB patients for tobacco cessation. DOTS providers believed that asking about tobacco use habit is part of their job and content related to tobacco cessation must be added in their training. Conclusion: Health workers are an ideal source of contact with the patients at the grass-root level. Development of tobacco cessation skills seems feasible and would allow DOTS creating awareness and rendering referral services for tobacco cessation. This would augment the skilled work-force to deal with the social menace of TB and tobacco together.


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