Cigarette Smoking and Cessation-Related Interactions With Health Care Providers in the Context of Living With HIV: Focus Group Study Findings.
Lauren R Pacek, Alicia D Holloway, Karen L Cropsey and 4 others
PMID 32639266WHAT IT FOUND
People with HIV who smoke often did not believe smoking was more harmful for them than for others without HIV.
They reported that providers frequently checked smoking status but rarely discussed quitting or offered cessation medications.
Key findings
01Participants predominantly did not believe cigarette smoking was more harmful for people with HIV than for those without it.
02While smoking status was often assessed by nurses or physicians, discussions about quitting were infrequent and cessation medications were rarely suggested.
03Attitudes toward cessation medications were mixed; some participants were willing to try them if adequately informed, while others avoided them due to previous bad experiences.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study included only 24 participants from a single academic center in the southeastern United States, limiting generalizability. The sample was predominantly African American and non-Hispanic, and consisted largely of older individuals. All participants were currently engaged in HIV care, so findings do not reflect the views of those not accessing services. Self-reported beliefs and experiences may be subject to recall bias.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the participants' lack of belief in increased smoking risks as evidence that smoking is not more harmful for people with HIV. The study reports patient perceptions, not clinical outcomes, and the discussion notes that existing evidence suggests smoking confers greater health risks for this population.