Table 6 Distribution of participants with regard to personal smoking status and questions/items regarding smoking cessation interventions implemented by nurses and their attitudes towards those interventions

Ask about smoking/tobacco use

Always

55

50

56

40

0.167

Usually

13

12

31

22

Sometimes

27

25

28

20

Rarely

12

11

19

14

Never

3

2.7

6

4.3

Advise patients to quit smoking

Always

8

7.3

16

12

0.078

Usually

17

16

31

22

Sometimes

34

31

48

35

Rarely

30

27

32

23

Never

21

19

12

8.6

Assess readiness to quit smoking

Always

3

2.7

12

8.6

0.276

Usually

21

19

23

17

Sometimes

32

29

45

32

Rarely

37

33

44

32

Never

17

16

15

11

Assist with smoking cessation

Always

3

2.7

4

2.9

0.682

Usually

11

10

16

12

Sometimes

34

31

38

27

Rarely

32

29

51

37

Never

30

27

30

22

Arrange smoking cessation follow-up

Always

2

1.8

1

0.7

0.851

Usually

6

5.5

11

7.9

Sometimes

17

16

19

14

Rarely

33

30

40

29

Never

52

47

68

49

Recommend the telephone quitline

Always

2

1.8

1

0.7

0.442

Usually

4

3.6

6

4.3

Sometimes

17

16

12

8.6

Rarely

20

18

31

22

Never

67

61

89

64

Refer to community cessation resources

Always

4

3.6

4

2.9

0.312

Usually

9

8.2

14

10

Sometimes

15

14

23

17

Rarely

25

23

44

32

Never

57

52

54

39

Recommend tobacco cessation medications

Always

1

0.9

1

0.7

0.665

Usually

4

3.6

7

5.0

Sometimes

13

12

17

12

Rarely

23

21

39

28

Never

69

63

75

54

Review barriers to quitting

Always

2

1.8

0

0.0

0.010

Usually

6

5.5

16

12

Sometimes

21

19

32

23

Rarely

26

24

48

35

Never

54

50

43

31

Recommend creating a smoke-free home environment

Always

5

4.5

9

6.5

0.166

Usually

4

3.6

15

11

Sometimes

29

26

33

24

Rarely

25

23

36

26

Never

47

43

46

31

Asking patients about smoking increases the likelihood that they will quit.

Strongly disagree

14

13

10

7.2

0.178

Disagree

32

29

29

21

Neutral

42

39

61

44

Agree

18

17

32

23

Strongly agree

3

2.8

7

5.0

It is difficult for me to get people to quit smoking.

Strongly disagree

2

1.8

4

2.9

0.451

Disagree

4

3.7

11

7.9

Neutral

41

38

50

36

Agree

45

41

60

43

Strongly agree

17

16

14

10

Counseling patients about quitting is not an efficient use of my time

Strongly disagree

5

4.6

6

4.3

0.293

Disagree

28

26

51

37

Neutral

48

44

50

36

Agree

18

17

25

18

Strongly agree

10

9.2

7

5.0

Patients appreciate it when I provide advice about quitting smoking.

Strongly disagree

12

11

8

5.8

0.170

Disagree

26

24

34

25

Neutral

51

47

69

50

Agree

13

12

25

18

Strongly agree

7

6.4

3

2.2

Discussing smoking cessation improves my relationship with patients.

Strongly disagree

17

16

14

10

0.594

Disagree

28

26

46

33

Neutral

50

46

61

44

Agree

11

10

15

11

Strongly agree

3

2.8

3

2.2

I feel uncomfortable asking patients whether they smoke.

Strongly disagree

17

16

21

15

0.526

Disagree

37

34

54

39

Neutral

31

28

44

32

Agree

21

19

16

12

Strongly agree

4

3.6

4

2.9

As a nurse, I can play an important role in helping patients quit.

Strongly disagree

6

5.5

3

2.2

0.633

Disagree

11

10

18

13

Neutral

44

40

54

39

Agree

39

36

50

36

Strongly agree

9

8.3

14

10

I need more training to help patients quit smoking.

Strongly disagree

10

9.2

8

5.8

0.715

Disagree

22

20

32

23

Neutral

34

31

48

35

Agree

29

27

38

27

Strongly agree

14

12.8

13

9.4

I have insufficient time to counsel patients about quitting smoking.

Strongly disagree

5

4.6

4

2.9

0.943

Disagree

13

12

16

12

Neutral

34

31

42

30

Agree

36

33

51

37

Strongly agree

21

19

26

19

I should take a more active role in helping patients to quit smoking.

Strongly disagree

6

5.5

7

5.0

0.985

Disagree

19

17

25

18

Neutral

46

42

63

45

Agree

30

28

35

25

Strongly agree

8

7.3

9

6.5

Patients will be offended if I inquire about their smoking status.

Strongly disagree

9

8.3

8

5.8

0.494

Disagree

26

24

47

34

Neutral

51

47

60

43

Agree

20

18

20

14

Strongly agree

3

2.8

4

2.9

Providing tobacco cessation counseling is important to our hospital even if only a few patients quit.

Strongly disagree

3

2.8

5

3.6

0.732

Disagree

8

7.3

9

6.5

Neutral

45

41

53

38

Agree

44

40

53

38

Strongly agree

9

8.3

19

14

I have an obligation to advise patients on the health risks associated with tobacco use.

Strongly disagree

6

5.5

3

2.2

0.315

Disagree

14

13

14

10

Neutral

46

42

51

37

Agree

33

30

52

37

Strongly agree

10

9.2

19

13.7

How many patients do you estimate have you counseled for smoking cessation over the past week ?

0

75

68

79

57

0.160

1 to 2

25

23

45

32

3 to 5

4

3.6

10

7.2

More than 5

6

5.5

5

3.6

Nurses should set a good example by not smoking

Strongly disagree

18

17

10

7.2

< 0.001

Disagree

19

18

11

8.0

Neutral

27

25

47

34.1

Agree

35

32

37

26.8

Strongly agree

9

8.3

33

24

Nurses should be involved in actively helping patients to stop smoking

Strongly disagree

9

8.3

3

2.2

0.118

Disagree

11

10

9

6.5

Neutral

41

378

55

40

Agree

39

36

52

38

Strongly agree

9

8.3

19

14

Nurses need additional training/skills in tobacco control

Strongly disagree

11

10

7

5.1

0.235

Disagree

10

9.3

11

8.0

Neutral

36

33

53

38

Agree

38

35

40

29

Strongly agree

13

12

27

20

How important is it for nurses to be involved in tobacco control activities?

1 – least important

9

8.3

14

10

0.372

2

23

21

17

12

3

43

39

53

38

4

27

25

42

30

5 – the most important

7

6.4

12

8.7

Compared to other disease prevention activities (e.g., nutrition, exercise, etc.), how important is it for nurses to be involved in tobacco control activities?

1 – least important

14

13

11

8.0

0.475

2

21

19

19

14

3

39

36

58

42

4

28

26

39

28

5 – the most important

7

6.4

11

8.0