Use of smoking cessation clinical practices among persons living with HIV in Argentina

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Argentina, the prevalence of smoking among persons living with HIV (PLWH) range between 40 and 60%. Tobacco smoking is related to cancer in the general population and to a reduced antiretroviral treatment response in PLWH. HIV care providers can have an important role in helping patients to quit smoking. This study examined factors related with the use of tobacco cessation clinical practices in a sample of infectious disease (ID) specialists serving PLWH in Argentina. METHODS: An online survey was administered to members of the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases who served PLWH. Descriptive analyses and generalized linear models were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 138 professionals participated (20.4% of those invited). The implementation of smoking cessation interventions was significantly higher in ID specialists who had received tobacco-related education (OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.10-1.35) than in those without formal training on smoking cessation (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44-0.94). DISCUSSION: There is a need to integrate smoking cessation training in the professional training of medical providers serving PLWH to strengthen their skills in these clinical practices and ultimately decrease tobacco consumption in this population.