Abstract

PERICAS BELTRAN, Jordi et al. Smoking habits among Primary Health Care Nurses: Factors that influence taking up and maintaining it. Index Enferm [online]. 2009, vol.18, n.1, pp.23-27. ISSN 1699-5988.

Primary Health Care Nurses (PHC) are suitable professionals in the fight against the smoking habit. Nevertheless some of them smoke and this may diminish their credibility and their feeling of self-efficacy when faced with this problem. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the factors that may influence taking up and maintaining the smoking habit. Thus, we carried out a qualitative study from a social phenomenological perspective, in 15 PHC nurses who are smokers, collecting the data by means of a semi-structured in-depth interview. The main issues that emerged were lack of awareness and the socializing role of tobacco. There is little awareness of the role of publicity and stress is not considered to be a determining factor of the habit in the area of PHC. The control of body weight may be decisive.

Keywords : The smoking habit; Primary Health Care; Phenomenological social.