Effect of healthcare practitioners´ advice on the decision to quit. GATS analysis from Argentina

Background Physicians have been paramount to lead the change in tobacco consumption worldwide. Healthcare team's advice on quitting has shown a small-sized but relevant effect. Argentine physicians have been found to smoke like the general population and adhere poorly to smoke-free rules in hospitals. The evidence-based National Guideline for Tobacco Cessation recommends doctors and nurses to give a short and strong advice to stop smoking. This study aimed to measure the quitting advice effect in real-life on the decision to do it. Methods Secondary analysis from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) done in Argentina in 2012, restricted to adult smokers of 18 years old or more. Results from a population-based study were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression modelling for the association of healthcare advice and a favorable attitude towards quitting (referring one quit attempt during last year, quitted less than a year ago or reported intention of quitting during the next month or year). Results Our sample included 1,717 smokers and recent quitters representing 6,431,623 (mean age 40.21 years, 37.77% women). Favorable attitude was present in 26.15% 95%CI 20.53-32.67 (mean age 41.41 years, 35.86% females). During the last year, 46.82% consulted the healthcare system (51.06% females). Smoking status were asked in 80.29% of cases and 76.51% received advice. Most of them referred 1 to 2 visits (59.58%), 18.81% 3 to 5 visits and 21.58% 6 or more times. Multivariate analysis showed medical advice was strongly associated with a favorable attitude towards smoking cessation (OR 6.25 CI 95% 2.91-13.42) after adjusting by age, gender, educational level and income. Conclusions In Argentina, healthcare practitioner's advice is strongly effective for promoting favorable attitude to quit regardless of age, gender, educational level and income. Advice was not systematically offered even after frequent visits. Additional strategies should be implemented to increase its delivery

Health warnings effects on the decision to quit. GATS analysis from Argentina

Background The WHO MPOWER strategy recommends the use of health warnings on cigarette packs about the impact of tobacco on health. Previous studies have shown the association of noticing warnings and making a quit attempt. Argentina introduced warnings as by the National Tobacco Control Law in 2012. This study aimed to measure the association of health warnings and attitudes towards quitting. Methods Secondary analysis from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) done in Argentina in 2012, restricted to adult smokers of 18 years old or more. Results from a population-based study were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression modelling for the association of noticing health warnings and having favorable attitudes (referring one quit attempt during last year, quit less than a year ago or reported intention of quitting during the next month or year). Results Our sample included 1,717 smokers and recent quitters representing 6,431,623 in a population-weighted projection (mean age 40.21 years, 37.77% women). Favorable attitude was present in 26.15% 95%CI 20.53-32.67 (mean age 41.41 years, 35.86% females). Most of them (83.55%) referred noticing warnings during the last month and 40.09% (95%CI 33.12-47.49) admitted warnings made them consider to quit. Multivariate analysis showed health warnings were strongly associated with favorable attitudes towards smoking cessation (OR 4.64 95%CI 2.28-9.41, p=0.001) after adjusting by age, gender, educational level and income. Conclusions Noticing health warnings on cigarette pack was associated to favorable attitudes toward cessation. They had a robust effect and were effective regardless of smoker demographics

Impact on cardiovascular disease events of the implementation of Argentina's national tobacco control law

Área de Salud, Economía y Socieda

Relación costo-utilidad de la disminución del consumo de sal y su efecto en la incidencia de enfermedades cardiovasculares en Argentina

Objetivo: Estimar la relación costo-utilidad de una intervención dirigida a reducir el consumode sal en la dieta de personas mayores de 35 años en ArgentinaÁrea de Salud, Economía y Socieda

Alfabetización en salud en pacientes que asisten a un hospital universitario

La Alfabetización en Salud (AS), del inglés health literacy, es la habilidad para obtener, procesar y entender información básica con respecto a la salud, necesaria para tomar decisionesÁrea de Salud, Economía y Socieda