Awareness of smoking among patients with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) attending medical clinics in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya

Abstract

Smoking is classified as a major etiological factor of IHD and one of the leading causes of hospital deaths in Sri Lanka. The knowledge and attitudes of general public regarding smoking and its relationship to IHD are important in reducing this disease burden. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and the patterns of smoking among the patients with IHD. A cross sectional study was conducted using adult patients with IHD attending medical clinics in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. The total sample was 200 (52% males).Out of them 90% was aware that smoking causes IHD and 80% knew that risk of IHD can be reduced by quitting smoking. The mean knowledge regarding smoking and IHD was 5.9 ± 3.8 out of the total score of 14. Nearly 93% opposed public smoking and 36% were past smokers while 11% of the total sample were current smokers. Overall knowledge on the relationship between smoking and IHD was average among the study participants. However, further educational programmes should be conducted to encourage them to stop smoking. The sample not being the representative of the general population as a whole was the limitation of the study.