Trends in tobacco use prevalence among primary care healthcare professionals in Cantabria, 2004–2024

Abstract Background and objectives Tobacco use among healthcare professionals (HCPs) is a public health concern due to their role in tobacco control. Reducing smoking rates in this group is essential to decreasing tobacco use in the general population. This study aimed to assess smoking trends among primary care professionals in Cantabria from 2004 to 2024 and compare them with prevalence in the general population. Methods In 2004, a stratified survey (N = 280) was conducted through interviews based on profession, sex, age, and type of tobacco, ensuring a precision of ± 2% and a 95% confidence level. In 2024, the survey was extended to all HCPs (N = 852). Smokers were defined as individuals who reported smoking at the time of the survey. Smoking prevalence in the general population was obtained from the 2003 National Health Survey and the 2020 European Health Survey. Data were analyzed using SPSS v25. Results Response rate exceeded 80% in both surveys. The proportion of women increased from 64.3% in 2004 to 82.0% in 2024. Between 2004 and 2024, smoking prevalence among HCPs decreased from 25.0% to 9.0% (22.1% to 6.9% in physicians; 28.6% to 11.2% in nurses). In both years, smoking rates were higher among men than women (2004: 26.3% vs. 17.6% in physicians; 35.0% vs. 27.4% in nurses; 2024: 9.9% vs. 5.8% in physicians; 11.9% vs. 11.1% in nurses). The proportion of never smokers increased from 40.9% to 59.6% in physicians and from 33.3% to 48.3% in nurses. In 2024, 2.9% of smoking HCPs also used heated tobacco products (3.5% physicians; 4.2% nurses), and 2.2% reported regular use of electronic cigarettes (3.6% physicians; 4.3% nurses). Conclusions Between 2004 and 2024, smoking prevalence among primary care HCPs in Cantabria declined by 16 percentage points. A parallel decrease was observed in the general population, from 30.2% in 2003 to 19.75% in 2020. Sustained public health measures are needed to consolidate this downward trend and promote further reductions in tobacco use. Key messages • From 2004 to 2024, smoking prevalence among primary health care professionals in Cantabria declined from 25% to 9%, aligning with a significant reduction in the general population. • In 2024, smoking rates among physicians (6.9%) and nurses (11.2%) indicate a substantial behavioral shift, reinforcing the impact of sustained tobacco control efforts.