A majority of US doctors, as many as 80%, wrongly believe that nicotine causes cancer, COPD and heart disease. This is according to a new US study.
Nicotine is addictive. However, according to modern research, it is the smoke, and not the nicotine, that is the major health risk for cigarette users. It is the substances formed during combustion that cause diseases such as cancer and KOL while inhaling carbon monoxide greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the nicotine itself does not cause any known chronic diseases, which opens the door to nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation.
Lack of knowledge about nicotine
But knowledge of nicotine and its effects on health is poor among doctors. This is according to a study at Rutger University. Over 1000 doctors took part in the study. Of these, 80% answered, incorrectly, that they believe nicotine causes cancer. 83% believed that nicotine causes heart disease. 81% believed that nicotine contributes to the development of COPD. In all cases, doctors showed a lack of understanding of the consequences of smoking and nicotine. This is a concern for the researchers behind the study.
"Doctors need to understand nicotine, especially at a time when they should be advising patients on products to help them quit smoking," says the researchers in a press release.
Low nicotine cigarettes just as dangerous
In the US, which recently introduced regulations to control all nicotine products, including snus and e-cigarettes (which do not dispose of smoke), can doctors' lack of knowledge have dangerous consequences, say researchers.
"For example, we have recently received cigarettes with lower nicotine content approved by the FDA, despite being at least as harmful as traditional cigarettes. At the same time, there are several other nicotine products on the market designed to reduce the risks, such as chewing gum, patches and smokeless tobacco. It is important that doctors have the right information about nicotine and its real effects on health," say the researchers.
Misperceptions of risk
At the same time, less than a third of doctors had a lack of knowledge about the risks of nicotine, for example, in pregnancy. Nicotine can affect the fetus, although the impact itself is much greater due to of other substances found in cigarette smoke. But a third of doctors did not even answer the question, the researchers note. This indicates a lack of interest.
"It should be a priority to correct the misconceptions about nicotine that apparently exist among doctors. Especially when our regulatory framework is designed to encourage smokers to use other nicotine preparations or smokeless tobacco products to reduce the harm of cigarette smoking" says Cristine Delnevo, Director of the Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies and Professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health.
