Physiotherapists’ knowledge and uptake of the ABC approach to smoking cessation

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine physiotherapists’ knowledge and uptake of the ABC approach to education on smoking cessation. An invitation to complete a web-based survey was emailed to each member of Physiotherapy New Zealand. Data gathered included demographic details, personal smoking habits and knowledge and uptake of the ABC training. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics. Respondents, n = 602, (response rate 19%), were representative of physiotherapists in New Zealand when demographics were matched with national workforce data. Over 50% knew about the ABC approach, however only 30% had completed training with Otago respondents reporting the highest level of training and those in Taranaki, the lowest. District Health Board employees were more likely to have completed training (60%) than those in the private sector (16%), or elsewhere (24%). Participants who had completed the ABC training more frequently or always asked patients if they smoked (69%) and more frequently scored the correct answer to true/false questions on social misconceptions regarding smoking (57%). The results suggest that geographic, employment and work environment impact on physiotherapists’ engagement in the ABC smoking cessation education. It is recommended that the profession specifically targets training in areas where uptake of the training is lowest.