Clinical psychologists and smoking cessation: treatment practices and perceptions

J Community Health. 2009 Dec;34(6):461-71. doi: 10.1007/s10900-009-9178-0.

Abstract

A random sample of clinical psychologists was surveyed regarding their smoking cessation practices and perceptions. A total of 352 psychologists responded (57%) to the valid and reliable questionnaire. The majority (59.1%) of psychologists did not always identify and document the smoking status of patients. The majority reported high efficacy expectations (66.4%) and low outcome expectations (55.1%) for using the 5A's smoking cessation counseling technique. Counselors that had never smoked were almost two times more likely to have higher efficacy expectations than those that were current smokers or ex-smokers (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.18-3.12). The factors that predicted regular use of the 5A's included the number of identified barriers, psychologists' level of self efficacy, and the urbanicity of one's practice location.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Counseling / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perception
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Professional-Patient Relations
  • Psychology, Clinical / methods*
  • Self Efficacy
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Smoking Cessation* / methods
  • Smoking Cessation* / psychology
  • Smoking Prevention*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires