The article presents an analysis of the prevalence of actions of medical personnel for identification of tobacco and nicotine products’ consumers and provision of advice on smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the involvement of medical personnel in identification of tobacco and nicotine products’ consumers and care delivery in tobacco/nicotine cessation, as well as the dynamics of consumers’ willingness for refusal of tobacco and nicotine products use in the 2020—2023 period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An analysis of smoking cessation attempts and medical personell’ readiness to deliver health care was carried out using a microdata base of selective health status monitoring in 2020—2023. The attitude of medical personnel to identifying tobacco/nicotine consumers and providing advice on smoking cessation was assessed according to a survey performed by specialists of the «Russian Society of Cardiology».

RESULTS

In 2023, about 60% of tobacco/nicotine consumers had a high degree of nicotine dependence, requiring medical care for effective smoking cessation. The proportion of consumers who had tried to quit smoking in the last 12 months decreased from 15.9% to 11.0% annually in 2020—2023. Despite the fact that medical personnel had asked patients about tobacco use more frequently (relative increase amounted to 28.6%) in 2020—2023, only one in three adults were surveyed among the ones who visited medical organizations and less than 40% of consumers received advice on tobacco/nicotine cessation. Medical staff more often gave advice on refusal of tobacco/nicotine to consumers over 40 years than to consumers aged 15—40 years.

CONCLUSION

The involvement of medical personnel in identifying tobacco/nicotine users and providing care to them still remains insufficient, which means that a comprehensive program aimed at motivation and education of medical staff of all specialties and engagement in participation in this work is needed.