Nicotine dependence and related risk factors at individuals admitted to primary care units in Ankara Yenimahalle

Abstract

Objective: To assess frequency of nicotine dependence, and to determine related sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors amon patients attending primary care units.

Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at two primary care units in Ankara Yenimahalle and patients attending to primary care outpatient clinics were enrolled to this study between 01/01/2009-10/03/ 2010 by random sampling regardless of their chief complaint. Information about age, education, occupation, marital status, place of residence, with whom they live, family structure, source of income, cause of admission, comorbid physical and psychiatric diseases and smoking history of other family members were obtained by pre-prepared questionnaire. Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test (FNDT) was applied to determine dependence level of the smokers.

Results: A total of 1000 patients, 451 (45.1%) male, 549 (54.9%) female whose ages were between 12-86 years were included into the study. Smoking rate of participants was 29% and it was high among 36-44 years of age and among men (p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). While no significant difference was seen in smoking rates by sex among participants under age 18 (p=0.72 ), over age 18 smoking rates were higher in men than women (p=0.001). Smoking rates were high in patients living alone (p=0.027), self-employed (p=0.001), temporary/ causal workers (p=0.001), whose mothers (p=0.001), fathers (p=0.001), brother and sisters (p=0.012 and p=0.001, respectively) and second-degree women relatives were smoking (p=0.04) and those without any physical diseases (p=0.003). When Fagerström scores were compared, dependence level was found lower in women (p=0.014). 2.12, 1.51 and 2.87 fold increases in probability of smoking were determined in the event of smoking of mother, father and sister, respectively. Also probabilities of smoking were 2.16 and 1.92 fold increased in male gender and in members of divorced family, respectively.

Conclusions: Probability of smoking increases if there is smoker in the family. Parents and family physicians who assess the individual with his social, cultural, economical, psychological and biological enviroment, have serious tasks to protect future generations from devastating health, social, enviromental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption.