Table 1

Doctors' tobacco-related correct knowledge and positive attitudes and perceptions, by smoking status (n=855)

Statements by category	Current smokers (n=79), % correct/positive	Ex-smokers (n=157), % correct/positive	Never-smokers (n=619), % correct/positive	χ² or Fisher's exact test	p Value
Knowledge on health hazards of active smoking
Smoking is harmful to your health	98.7	100	100		0.09^*
Nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive	96.2	90.4	95.2	5.78	0.056
People can get addicted to cigarette just as they can get addicted to cocaine or heroin	68.4	81.5	83.8	11.411	0.003
Tobacco kills more people each year than illegal drugs, AIDS and road accidents	50.6	56.1	54.4	0.625	0.732
Knowledge on health hazards of secondhand smoking
Neonatal death is associated with passive smoking	69.6	72.6	70.8	0.288	0.866
Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of sudden infant death	79.7	82.8	79.6	0.801	0.670
Passive smoking increases the risk of heart diseases in non-smoking adults	96.2	94.3	92.9	1.464	0.481
Passive smoking increases the risk of lung diseases in non-smoking adults	97.5	99.4	99.4	3.145	0.207
Paternal smoking increases lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia in exposed children	94.9	96.8	96.9	0.884	0.643
Smoke from cigarettes is harmful to people who are repeatedly exposed, not just smokers	98.7	97.5	98.5		0.490^*
Attitudes towards tobacco control policy
Tobacco sales to children and adolescents should be banned	96.2	99.4	98.5	3.572	0.186
There should be a complete ban on advertising of tobacco products	91.1	98.1	99.2		<0.001^*
Health warning on cigarette package should be in large print	93.7	98.1	98.7		0.012^*
Sport sponsorship by tobacco industry should be banned	59.5	61.1	66.4	2.586	0.274
Smoking in all enclosed public places should be banned	97.5	99.4	97.3		0.283^*
Smoking should be banned at hospitals/healthcare centres and medical facilities	97.5	99.4	99.0		0.311^*
The price of tobacco should be increased sharply	58.2	77.7	73.5	10.551	0.005
Attitudes and perceptions of role of health professionals (HP) in tobacco control
HPs should routinely ask about their patients' smoking habits	96.2	98.1	98.5		0.236^*
HPs should routinely advise their smoking patients to quit smoking	98.7	98.7	98.7		1.000^*
HPs who smoke are less likely to advise people to stop smoking	69.6	79.0	74.6	2.588	0.274
HPs should routinely advise patients/people who smoke to avoid smoking around children	100	100	99.4		0.721^*
HPs should get specific training on cessation techniques	96.2	100	99.2		0.028^*
HPs should speak to community groups about smoking	98.7	98.7	99.0		0.620^*
HPs should serve as role models for their patients and the public	100	99.4	99.2		1.000^*
Patients' chances of quitting smoking are increased if HP advises them to quit	94.9	98.7	98.2		0.142^*

Current smokers include daily and occasional smokers; Never-smokers are those who have never smoked.
↵* For values less than 5, Fisher's exact test was used.