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The tcrc co-ordinates and conducts research in collaboration with
national medical associations and other local partners.
tcrc research addresses the roles and responsibilities of national
medical associations and of individual doctors in tobacco control,
and reflects action recommended to medical associations in successive
statements adopted by the European Forum of Medical Associations.
Research focuses on two main activities:
surveys of smoking among European doctors
Collection of accurate information on smoking among doctors is
important for several reasons. Doctor's tobacco use both reflects
and influences their attitudes to tobacco. As well as endangering
their own health, doctors who smoke risk sending a misleading message
to their patients and to the public. Doctors who don't smoke are
more likely to help their patients to quit. Changes in doctors smoking
habits can indicate future trends in the population.
Organisations belonging to the European Forum of Medical Associations
and WHO (EFMA) have made a commitment to conduct surveys of tobacco
use among their members. In collaboration with national medical
associations across Europe, the Tobacco Control Resource Centre
is co-ordinating surveys of smoking among doctors, using a standardised
methodology.
The results of the survey will be publicised at the national, European
and wider international levels. Detailed methodologies and advice
on sampling and response rates are provided to collaborating partners,
to ensure comparability and allow an accurate picture of smoking
among doctors across Europe. Collaborating partners are responsible
for data collection by postal questionnaire among a representative
sample of their membership. Data coding may be carried out either
locally or by the TCRC. The TCRC performs the final analysis of
the coded data.
As of April 2000, surveys are complete in 16 countries, and underway
in 10 more. For a further six countries, reliable data are available
from national surveys. Surveys completed or underway are expected
to yield data representative of some 1.8 million doctors across
the European region - some 60% of the European medical profession
- making this the largest overview of smoking among doctors.
Data collected reveal national variations in the prevalence of
smoking, and differences by gender, age of adoption, previous quit
attempts, age of quitting, level of usage, and medical speciality.
surveys of NMA tobacco control activities
The tobacco control resource centre sent national medical associations
an eight question survey on their tobacco control activity. Outcomes
will be published later this year.
questions
the questions focused on their smoke-free policies, campaigning
and provision of information.
Qu. 1 got a no-smoking policy (in other words, is smoking
restricted on the premises)?
Qu. 2 encouraged no smoking policies in either the workplace
or in public places?
Qu. 3 campaigned to increase public awareness of the risks
of tobacco?
Qu. 4 lobbied politicians and policy makers on the need
for controls on tobacco use?
Qu. 5 entered into joint initiatives on tobacco issues for
controls on tobacco use?
Qu. 6 produced any written information for doctors or patients
on tobacco control?
Qu. 7 undertaken research or surveys on smoking (excluding
the tcrc/efma questionnaire on smoking prevalence)?
Qu. 8 undertaken any other initiatives on tobacco controls?
profiles of three NMAs and their tobacco control activities
a look at the activities of three national medical associations.
- Czech Medical Association
- Finnish Medical Association
- Slovak Medical Association
Czech Medical Association
- pursues initiatives with the national media throughout the year
- drafting tobacco control legislation for the year 2000
- supports initiatives with non-governmental organisations including
World No Tobacco Day, Quit and Win competitions
- distributes smoking cessation guidelines to doctors via a free
journal
- organises seminars for journalists
- undertakes an annual survey of approximately 2000 physicians,
nurses and medical students
Finnish Medical Association
Since 1993 the FMA have supported a programme following a report
entitled 'Tobacco or Health'. This report is available from the
Finnish Medical Association. Objectives included:
- placing regular articles in the Association's journal on the
risks of smoking
- Doctors Against Tobacco: a campaign to persuade doctors and
health care professionals not to smoke
- campaign to prevent hospitals selling tobacco and promoting
a smoke-free environment
- campaign aimed at the general public
- providing information for medical students about the risks of
smoking
- providing information for schools
- lobbying for legislation to prevent smoking in public places
Slovak Medical Association
- lobbied for the implementation of the tobacco control law
- instigated a national plan of tobacco control activities
- holds meetings to lobby workplaces to safeguard health
- encourages Quit and Win competitions
- promotes smoking cessation through sponsorship, educational
programs, school health lessons and epidemiological
research
- published a handbook of health advice
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