Introduction:
The 3“A’s” model (Ask-screen for smoking, Advise-provide a quit message, and Assist-provide treatment), is an evidence-based framework for structuring smoking cessation in health care settings. The study aimed to reveal primary healthcare physicians’ (PHPs) attitude and practice towards smoking cessation brief interventions based on 3“A’s” model.

Material and Methods:
The study was conducted among PHPs from two cities in Armenia: Yerevan (the capital city) and Gyumri (the second largest city). We used self-administered questionnaires to evaluate the participants’ attitude and practice in providing smoking cessation based on the 3“A’s” model.

Results:
Overall, 108 PHPs participated in the study. Majority of participants (93.52%, n=101) had positive attitude towards asking patients about smoking and 78.22% (n=79) of them (74.07% (n=80) of all participants) reported about always asking about the smoking status of patients. Similarly, almost all participants (99.07%, n=107) agreed that it was their responsibility to routinely advise smoking patients to quit and 87.85% (n=94) of them (87.96% (n=95) of all participants) were always advising on quitting. Only 41.67% (n=45) of the participants were always assisting patients to quit smoking. The majority (57.41%, n=62) did not provide assistance in their practices despite their positive attitude (99.07%, n=107).

Conclusions:
Although having favorable attitude towards asking, advising and assisting patients to quit smoking, PHPs did not fully implement smoking cessation brief interventions in daily practice. Further research is needed to identify barriers that hinder PHPs from transferring their positive attitude towards helpingsmoking patients into practice.

Funding:
Global Bridges Healthcare Alliance for Tobacco Dependence Treatment, hosted by Mayo Clinic and Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning and Change.